Congress Leaves for Recess Without Reaching Deal With White House on COVID-19 Relief Bill

By Mary Anne R. First Posted: Oct 02, 2020 11:36 PM EDT

The House of Representatives has adjourned its sessions for October recess, even though congressional Democrats have yet to strike a deal with White House officials for a COVID-19 relief bill.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, in a letter to her Democratic House colleagues, said that she and the administration officials remained in contrast on certain issues.

Pelosi and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin spoke many times this week to negotiate. The two also met in person at the Capitol on Tuesday.

"Our negotiations with the Administration continue, and I am hopeful that we can reach agreement. However, we still have significant disagreement in key areas," Pelosi said.

She noted that she and administration officials have opposing views on unemployment insurance benefits, schools, state and local funding, a child tax credit, testing and tracing, and appropriations.

Pelosi said they are expecting a response from the White House on these areas and others with more detail.

"In the meantime, we continue to work on the text to move quickly to facilitate an agreement," Pelosi said in a report.

Pelosi told reporters on Thursday that the two sides are still far apart on issues including funding for state and local governments.

Pelosi noted that there is also a "stark difference not just of dollars, but of values."

The House passed a $2.2 trillion COVID-19 bill in Thursday evening. It is a slimmed-down version of the $3.4 trillion COVID-19 relief bill the House passed previously.

The said legislation is unlikely to pass in the Senate as the Republican majority is unwilling to consider a proposal that costs more than $2 trillion.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said on Wednesday that the thought that Senate Republicans would approve of the $2.2 trillion is outlandish.

Earlier this month, the Senate Republicans introduced a new COVID-19 bill with a smaller price tag. However, this GOP-backed bill does not include a second round of stimulus checks.

The GOP's measures dubbed as "skinny bill" was one of the Congress's first move after its nearly month-long recess. The bill includes a provision that has liability protections for businesses and health-care facilities.

It also has more money for health-care funding and schools, as well as a second round of funding for Paycheck Protection Program for small businesses. This was opposed by Democrats.

Pelosi and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said in a joint statement that Senate Republicans appear determined on another bill, which does not come close to addressing the problem. The two Democratic leaders said the bill was heading nowhere.

Meanwhile, Pelosi also offered her thoughts and prayers for President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump. Both have tested positive for the coronavirus disease.

Pelosi said this is a sad day for our country, knowing that more than seven million families have faced the same worry with COVID-19. She added that more than 209,000 have already died from the virus.

Trump and the first lady tested positive for COVID-19 after White House senior aide Hope Hicks' diagnosis came out positive.

The President will remain hospitalized for a few days, according to a report.