The United States once again faces the government's suspension of the Congressional bailout bill negotiations still have huge obstacles
According to reports from many US media on December 19, local time, the deadline for the government shutdown is imminent, but members of the Senate and House of Representatives still face huge obstacles in the weekend negotiations on the bailout bill.
Congressional negotiators tried to reach a final agreement on the New Coronary Pneumonia Emergency Relief Act on the 19th, which will expand unemployment benefits, increase assistance to businesses, and send a new round of bailout checks to most U.S. taxpayers .
However, after several days of continuous talks, some issues threatened the conclusion of this bill worth about 900 billion U.S. dollars, the most notable of which was the controversy about cutting the Federal Reserve’s emergency loan program.
In addition, the lawmakers have not yet resolved the assessment of eligibility for small business relief, how unemployment benefits are distributed, and the standard for issuing $600 checks per person.
Before Congress discussed the issue of the issuance of bailout checks for $600 per person, Democratic participant Bernie Sanders proposed a bill in the Senate on the afternoon of the 18th, advocating that the annual income does not exceed $75,000. The Americans offered a second round of bailout checks for $1,200.
Senator Josh Hawley also made the same proposition on the morning of the 18th.
However, the bill was rejected by Republican Senator Ron Johnson. Johnson believes that the relief of the new crown pneumonia epidemic and the national debt are more worrying.
U.S. President Trump signed a two-day federal funding extension agreement a few hours before facing a government shutdown on the evening of the 18th, extending the time for Congress to reach an agreement on the bailout bill by another two days.
The Speakers of the United States Congress are under tremendous pressure that they may not be able to complete the bailout bill.
At present, the new crown pneumonia epidemic is raging in the United States, the death toll has continued to increase, the unemployment rate has risen, and the government is facing a shutdown, all urging lawmakers to reach a final agreement over the weekend.
(CCTV reporter Xu Dezhi)