Congress is rushing to close the coronavirus deal as closure looms

Congress leaders are rushing to finalize and approve a $ 900 billion coronavirus deal before a midnight deadline to avoid a government shutdown.

The leadership says they are on the brink of a sweeping deal that would link the long-sought relief with a $ 1.4 trillion bill to fund the government through Oct. 1. If they can’t make it to the upcoming deal by the end of Sunday, there’s something important -and-file-senators doubt, they’ll have to use an emergency bill to keep the government open.

Leader of the majority of the Senate Mitch McConnellAddison (Mitch) Mitchell McConnell Senators Reach Deal Over Fed Powers, Paving the Way for Coronavirus Aid Passage Coronavirus Aid Deal Hinges on Talks Over Fed Lending Powers Senate GOP Absences Hook Trump Nominees MORE (R-Ky.), Who entered the Capitol today, told reporters they were “very, very close.”

“We are throwing out the remaining differences. I think I can speak on behalf of all parties if I expect and hope to make a final agreement within a few hours,” McConnell said from the floor during the rare Sunday session.

Speaker Nancy PelosiNancy PelosiSenators Agree on Fed Powers and Pave the Way for Coronavirus Emergency Passage Sunday Shows Preview: US Rolls Out First Doses of Coronavirus Vaccine; Congress Secures Incentive Deal Lawmakers Expect MORE COVID-19 Aid Agreement Soon (D-Calif.) Reiterated that, describing the negotiations as “close. We are very close.”

Meanwhile, Senate leader minorities Charles SchumerChuck Schumer Senators agree on Fed powers and pave the way for coronavirus emergency Coronavirus deal hinges on talks over Fed lenders Ocasio-Cortez: I’m ‘not ready’ to be speaker, but Pelosi Schumer must go MORE (DN.Y.) said that “barring a major accident” both the House and Senate could vote “tonight.”

“Right now, the legislative text is being finalized. It is time to move forward and reach a conclusion,” he added from the Senate floor.

Progress towards a deal comes after a breakthrough in the middle of the night at the last major bottleneck: emergency lending facilities under the Federal Reserve.

The deal would close four Federal Reserve credit facilities created by the CARES Act and will prevent the Fed from setting up replica facilities in the future without congressional approval. The Fed will retain more flexibility in rebooting the Term Asset Backed Securities Loan Facility, which will close but may be restarted in the future.

Her. Pat ToomeyPatrick (Pat) Joseph Toomey Government Used Patriot Act to Collect Website Visitor Logs in 2019 Appeals Court Rules NSA’s Bulk Phone Data Collection Illegal Dunford Withdraws From Consideration To Chair Coronavirus Monitoring Panel MORE (R-Pa.) In a conference call on Sunday afternoon, told reporters that they were still in the process of finalizing the Federal Reserve’s language, but that he intended to support the overall package.

“Despite considerable reservations about some specifics, I think the good outweighs the bad, and I intend to vote in favor on this point,” he said.

Leadership officials acknowledged that the agreement with Toomey on the language brought Congress significantly closer, but there are smaller issues that need to be ironed out as the leadership must finalize and finalize the year-end deal.

“There are a few unresolved issues, but I am hopeful that we are approaching a result,” said Schumer.

Lawmakers are also pushing for language in the deal for a “Paycheck Protection Program” tax “fix” out of concern that companies that have received PPP loans will face higher-than-expected tax bills next year.

“Sounds to me like things aren’t quite connected,” Sen. John CornynJohn Cornyn Coronavirus Deal Hinges On Fed Lending Powers Talks Senate GOP Absences Snag Trump Nominees Congress Approves Bill To Prevent Closure As Coronavirus Talks Enter Weekend MORE (R-Texas) said Sunday.

Her. Marco RubioMarco Antonio Rubio Ocasio-Cortez defends Biden’s upcoming deputy chief of staff amid a backlash Biden’s incoming deputy chief of staff says she shouldn’t have named lawmakers as ‘f — ers’ Sweeping COVID-19, spending deal hits speed bumps MORE (R-Fla.) Added that the PPP language was still being discussed as of Saturday night, but the inclusion of a legal solution has “broad support”.

Because the bill for coronavirus relief is tied to the omnibus government’s financing deal, which the owners say has been finalized for days, Congress must approve the deal by the end of Sunday to avoid a closure.

Congress has already had to use three ongoing resolutions (CR) this year to keep the government going: one that funded the government from October 1 to December 11, and a second that extended the deadline to December 18. On Friday night, while negotiations were underway, they bought themselves another 48 hours by passing an ongoing resolution that the government funded until the end of Sunday.

The House is expected to vote on the funding agreement between COVID and the government before the deadline, although the vote could be postponed until Sunday evening.

“Members are advised that votes are expected in the House today in connection with government funding and further coronavirus control legislation. Members are further informed that voting may take place late at night,” said the House majority leader. Steny HoyerSteny Hamilton HoyerCongress Heads Towards Veto Clash With Trump Congress Approves Bill To Avert Closure As Coronavirus Talks Drag Over The Weekend House Passes Two-Day Emergency Bill To Prevent Closure MORE (D-Md.) Advised.

It is unclear whether the Senate can vote by midnight. Faced with a time crisis, the leadership needs the cooperation of all 100 senators, with only one legislature able to delay an agreement and push Congress past the deadline.

Her. Josh HawleyJoshua (Josh) David Hawley Senators Reach Deal Over Fed Powers, Paving the Way for Coronavirus Emergency Passage Coronavirus Emergency Relief Deal Hinges on Talks Over Fed Lending Powers Senate GOP Absences Hook Trump Nominees MORE (R-Mo.) Said on Sunday he may not agree to a quick passage of a CR.

‘I do not think so. I don’t think I agree. … This plane has to land, ”Hawley said of a new emergency.

House Majority Whip James Clyburn (DS.C.) told MSNBC that Congress would need a new CR if both chambers couldn’t approve the bill Sunday night. Cornyn, meanwhile, doubted the Senate could vote before Monday.

“I hear that the text will not be available until later and that Parliament will have to vote on it first,” Cornyn said of the chances of the senate voting on Sunday. “So I guess it’s questionable, I’d guess.”

McConnell, when asked about a Senate vote on Sunday, told reporters, “A quick vote would require a lot of cooperation. We’ll see.”

Several GOP senators said they expect the Senate vote to carry through on Monday.

“That would be quite optimistic if we try to do it tonight,” said Sen. James LankfordJames Paul Lankford With Senate at stake, Georgia is on our minds Ethics experts ask Senate to investigate Graham’s probe of mail-in-voting The Hill’s 12:30 Report – Presented by Capital One – Pfizer Reveals Detailed Analysis of COVID-19 vaccine and next steps MORE (R-Okla.), Adding that a CR must be “prepared”.