U.S. Congress Struggles as Partisanship Stymies New Coronavirus Bill

The U.S. 🏛️Congress struggled to produce a fresh coronavirus relief bill on Monday, as a stubborn standoff between Republicans and Democrats complicated the challenge of passing legislation with most lawmakers out of town.

Senate Republicans, who are pressing lawmakers to agree to$250 billion in additional small business aid, chose not to bring the measure forward during a brief session, after Democrats reaffirmed their own demands for broader legislation.

“It’s time for the Republicans to quit the political posturing by proposing bills they know will not pass either chamber and get serious and work with us,” House of Representatives Speaker 👤Nancy Pelosi and Senate Democratic leader 👤Chuck Schumer said in a joint statement.

The standoff over the next coronavirus bill began last week with a skirmish on the Senate floor, where Republicans failed to pass a narrower measure to provide a fresh $250 billion to small businesses over Democratic opposition.

Republicans then blocked a Democratic measure that included the same $250 billion but set aside some of the lending for community banks to aid minority-owned and rural businesses, and provided further aid to hospitals and a federal food program for the poor. Democrats and state governors also want to include aid to help state governments on the front line of the outbreak.

Aides to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and House Republican leader Kevin McCarthy declined to comment.

But Republican Senator Dan Sullivan, who presided over the Monday pro forma session lasting less than one minute, said the Republican bill is needed because money for small business is beginning to run out.