After five straight days of negotiation, Senate leaders and the Trump administration have reached an agreement on a $2 trillion stimulus package to rescue the economy from the devastation caused by the coronavirus epidemic.
Speaking with The Washington Post, White House National Economic Council Director Larry Kudlow called the package the “single largest Main Street assistance program in the history of the United States,” and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky) noted that “in effect, this is a wartime level of investment into our nation.”
Congress failed to pass a different stimulus bill just three days ago that would have injected close to $1.8 trillion into the economy, and as the debate progressed on Tuesday, it wasn’t clear that the new bill would fare any better. Finally, close to midnight, negotiations intensified between key Trump administration officials, Senate Majority Leader McConnell, and Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.). They announced the breakthrough on the Senate floor at around 1:30 a.m..
“At last we have a deal,” McConnell said. “After days of intense discussion, the Senate has reached a bipartisan agreement on a historic relief package for this pandemic ... I’m thrilled that we’re finally going to deliver for the country.”
“Help is on the way, big help and quick help,” Schumer added. “We’re going to take up and pass this package to care for those who are now caring for us, and help carry millions of Americans through these dark economic times.” READ MORE