Congress Agrees To More Coronavirus Checks, Unemployment

WASHINGTON — Congress has reached an end-of-year deal to pass a second major coronavirus aid package that includes support for small businesses, unemployment benefits, and $600 in direct payments to most US residents, as a third wave of cases hits the country.Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell made the announcement Sunday evening after the parties spent all weekend negotiating. While final details of the deal are still being rolled out, it also includes billions in dollars for small businesses, the transportation industry, schools, and for COVID testing, tracing, and vaccinations.Other parts of the deal include:$284 billion for the Paycheck Protection Program for businesses, which subsidizes keeping employees on payroll$35 billion in rental assistance and extension of a federal eviction moratoriumThe deal includes legislation to end the practice of surprise medical billing$82 billion for colleges and schools$10 billion for child care$13 billion for food stamps and children nutrition program$27 billion for state highways and transportation industries, including airlines and Amtrak.It would be the first pandemic aid passed by Congress since the CARES Act in March. Momentum for a holiday package built through December but came to a head this week as party leaders negotiated well into the night Tuesday.The breakthrough came when McConnell proposed stripping out the two most contentious elements: immunity from COVID lawsuits for businesses, a Republican demand, and aid money for state and local governments, which Democrats wanted.