After months of bitter negotiations, Democrats and Republicans should soon break the deadlock.

The House of Representatives has already approved, Monday, December 21, a stimulus plan of 892 billion dollars (729 billion euros) to provide the population and American companies with new aid in the face of the impact of the coronavirus crisis.

The Senate vote is still waiting. 

"The vote was late, while the agreement (in principle) between Democrats and Republicans was formalized on Sunday," said Matthieu Mabin, correspondent for France 24 in Washington, who evokes "vague" reasons and adjustments of last minute "came to delay the vote". 

Recovery plan: "The vote is late"

01:32

Earlier today, Republican Senate Leader Mitch McConnell told reporters the Senate would vote "probably late but we'll finish tonight."

If approved, the text must then be submitted to President Donald Trump for promulgation.

The White House has clarified that the outgoing president will sign the bill.

"The second most important (package of measures) in history"

The House passed a measure providing for $ 1.4 trillion in government spending until next September.

The support plan provides for the direct payment of $ 600 to most Americans and additional payments to the millions of people who were made unemployed during the Covid-19 pandemic.

"It's an emergency and survival program," Senate Democratic Minority Leader Chuck Schumer pleaded Monday.

Aid is incomplete and the Biden administration will have to "fill the gaps" in January, he added.

However, "we should not underestimate the importance of this package" of measures, he noted, "the second most important in the history" of the United States.

A text that is not unanimous

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi urged representatives to support the bill, although it does not include direct aid to state governments and local communities, a Democrats request. 

The text also does not contain the legal protection of companies in the face of lawsuits related to the coronavirus wanted by the Republicans.

She added that there is still time to push for additional measures after Joe Biden's inauguration into the White House on January 20.

This stimulus package will be one of the largest in US history, after the $ 2.3 trillion budget package voted by Congress last March.

With AFP and Reuters

The summary of the week

France 24 invites you to come back to the news that marked the week

I subscribe

Take international news everywhere with you!

Download the France 24 application

google-play-badge_FR