Top Democrats back off demands for larger COVID-19 bill

Updated: 4:52 p.m. ET

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer say a $908 billion coronavirus relief proposal should be the starting point for bipartisan aid.

It is the first time Pelosi, D-Calif., and Schumer, D-N.Y., have accepted any COVID-19 legislation other than the $2.2 trillion bill that passed the House of Representatives in October. But their shift to the moderates' plan comes after Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., already rejected the bipartisan proposal.

"In the spirit of compromise we believe the bipartisan framework introduced by Senators yesterday should be used as the basis for immediate bipartisan, bicameral negotiations," Pelosi and Schumer said in a statement. "Of course, we and others will offer improvements, but the need to act is immediate and we believe that with good-faith negotiations we could come to an agreement."

Both parties are under intense pressure to approve further relief as COVID-19 cases and deaths continue to surge across the country. Public health officials have warned the pandemic could worsen over the next several months, even as states begin to distribute the first rounds of a vaccine.

The bipartisan legislation includes $300 in weekly federal unemployment benefits for 18 weeks, $288 billion in fresh funding for the Paycheck Protection small business loan program and $16 billion for testing and vaccine distribution. It also includes a temporary block on pandemic-related lawsuits to allow states to craft their own policies on legal liability.

Senate Republicans have offered their own, much smaller legislation — costing roughly over $500 billion. Their latest proposal includes $332.7 billion for small businesses, $105 billion for schools, and $31 billion for vaccine distribution, therapies and medical supplies. It does not include direct aid for states and local governments, a key priority for Democrats.

GOP Sen. John Thune of South Dakota, asked about the top Democrats' shift on the issue, said it was "definitely progress, it's a move in the right direction, and I think hopefully it'll be helpful in us getting a deal done."

McConnell has said he hopes to include some targeted relief in an upcoming spending bill that must be approved by Dec. 11. The GOP leader said Tuesday his goal is for Congress to pass something that has President Donald Trump's support.

"Waiting for next year is not an answer," McConnell said. "It will all likely come in one package."

Copyright 2020 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org.

• Voters with disabilities have options, including online, curbside and assisted voting
• Ballot drop box fires highlight concerns that election conspiracy theories are making them a target
• Facing fallout, Trump claims no president did more for Puerto Rico than he did
• New polling finds Harris gaining with a group she has struggled with: Black men