Mnuchin 'hopeful' deal to replenish small business loan fund could come Sunday

April 19, 2020 | 10:34am Sign up for our special edition newsletter to get a daily update on the coronavirus pandemic.Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said he is “hopeful” that Congress will strike a deal Sunday on replenishing the small business loan program that ran out of cash last week.“I’m hopeful that we can reach an agreement that the Senate can pass this tomorrow and that the House can take it up on Tuesday and Wednesday we’d be back up and running,” Mnuchin said Sunday on CNN’s “State of the Union.”Asked if that agreement could come Sunday, Mnuchin said, “I’m hopeful. I think we’re very close to a deal today and I’m hopeful that we can get that done.”Speaking on CNN moments after the Mnuchin interview, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer expressed optimism for a deal.“I’m very hopeful we could come to an agreement tonight or tomorrow morning,” the New York Democrat said.Republican members of Congress have been pushing for a $250 billion deal to refund the $350 billion Paycheck Protection Program.But Democrats want an additional $250 billion for local and state governments and hospitals that are on the frontlines of the coronavirus outbreak.“We’ve also reached an agreement on SBA disaster loans so there’ll be another $50 billion appropriated, which can do over $300 billion disaster loans.