Congress Seals Agreement on COVID Relief, Government Funding

WASHINGTON (AP) — Top negotiators in Congress have sealed a deal on an almost $1 trillion COVID-19 economic relief package.

Lawmakers announced the agreement Sunday after days of negotiations, and passage by Congress is expected Monday. The agreement would establish a temporary $300 per week supplemental jobless benefits and $600 direct stimulus payments to most Americans, along with a fresh round of subsidies for hard-hit businesses and funding for schools, health care providers, and renters facing eviction.

The final agreement was reached after a breakthrough over Federal Reserve emergency powers was resolved by the Senate’s top Democrat and a senior conservative Republican.

(Story written by  By ANDREW TAYLOR/AP)