COVID relief

A Republican senator on Thursday severely delayed the passage of a $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief package by forcing the entire 628-page bill to be read out loud, NBC News reports.

The House passed a $1.9 trillion pandemic relief package early Saturday that includes $1,400 checks for most Americans and billions of dollars for schools, state and local governments and businesses

The FDA could approve a new one-shot COVID vaccine by Friday, as Congress decides on COVID relief bill details. The Johnson & Johnson one-shot vaccine is over 20 percent less effective than Pfizer and Moderna’s, but still far better than a flu shot.

Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., told the press on Tuesday the Senate is “on track” to have the next COVID relief bill for President Joe Biden to sign by March 14th. Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-K.Y., also addressed the media on Monday and said Republican senators were lobbying for a less expensive relief package to be passed.

January showed little recovery for the job market, with just 49,000 jobs added for the month. Meanwhile, Senate Democrats passed the $1.9 trillion COVID relief bill without any affirmative votes from Republicans.

President Joe Biden is encouraging Democratic lawmakers to “act fast” on his $1.9 trillion COVID rescue plan but also signaling he’s open to changes, including limiting the proposed $1,400 direct payments to Americans with lower income levels

Senate Republicans expressed hope of a bipartisan compromise on COVID-19 relief following a White House meeting with President Joe Biden. Both plans include the same amount for more vaccines, but the new Republican proposal would cost $618 billion, a third of President Biden’s plan.

President Joe Biden will meet Monday with 10 Republican Senators pitching a new COVID relief plan. The Republican plan carries a third the cost of Biden’s, with the same money for vaccinations, but nearly 90 percent less to reopen schools. Stimulus checks drop to $1,000 and phase out for higher income families.

President Joe Biden is making passage of a new $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief bill his top priority, with Democrats wanting to vote next week, with or without Republican support. Republicans say the plan costs too much, and want to break it into smaller bills.

President Joe Biden signed two new executive orders, expanding food stamps and government assistance like direct payments to economically stricken Americans during the pandemic. On Capitol Hill, the Senate is considering pushing Donald Trump’s impeachment trial to mid-February, possibly making more time to get Biden’s nominees to his Cabinet confirmed.

Taxpayers who say they qualify for COVID-related Economic Impact Payments but never received them turned to NBC 5 Responds for help getting answers on their missing money, and the answer starts with a sentence we don’t often get to say: The Internal Revenue Service says there is a simple fix here.

Secretary of the Treasury Steven Mnuchin said Tuesday that Americans could expect to start receiving their COVID-19 relief direct payment via direct deposit as early as Tuesday evening.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., on Tuesday blocked a Democratic bid to vote on increasing the COVID-19 relief checks from $600 to $2,000.

President Donald Trump signed a COVID relief and government funding bill Sunday night after a week of threatening to veto the bill for its “low” direct cash payments of $600 to eligible Americans. The House is expected to vote on a bill raising the $600 amount to $2,000 for adults today.

The rare Christmas Eve session of the House lasted just minutes, with help for millions of Americans awaiting Trump’s signature on the bill. Unemployment benefits, eviction protections and other emergency aid, including smaller $600 checks, are at risk. Trump’s refusal of the $900 billion package, which is linked to $1.4 trillion government funds bill, could spark a federal shutdown at...

House Democrats proposed to send $2,000 direct payments to most Americans today by unanimous consent but the proposal failed on the House floor

Congress just passed a nearly $1 trillion COVID-19 relief bill. Will you get a check? Here is everything you need to know.

An arcane battle over emergency Federal Reserve powers is frustrating efforts to lock down an agreement on an almost $1 trillion COVID-19 economic relief package. The impasse is just the latest stumble in a partisan, monthslong battle over COVID-19 relief, and feelings hardened as the Senate congregated for a weekend session.

Biden cut a new ad for Raphael Warnock and Jon Ossoff weeks before the Jan. 5 runoff elections in Georgia that will determine who controls the Senate.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell says the Senate won’t leave for Christmas break until a deal is reached; President-elect Joe Biden names more cabinet picks.