Without a final agreement yet on extra money for an emergency small business aid fund, the U.S. Senate was unable on Monday to pass any legislation addressing the Coronavirus, but Republicans set another session for Tuesday, hoping a deal could be reached by then with Democrats.
"It’s now been four days since the Paycheck Protection Program ran out of money," said Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell.
"At this hour, our Democratic colleagues are still prolonging their discussions with the Administration, so the Senate won’t be able to pass more funding for Americans’ paychecks today," McConnell added.
Instead of not meeting again until Thursday, McConnell indicated the Senate would return for an unplanned session on Tuesday, in hopes of voting on a Coronavirus bill, which could include as much as $450 billion in relief.
The package taking shape in Congress would add $300 billion for the Paycheck Protection Program - which ran out of money last week.
That emergency fund was designed to help small businesses keep people on the payroll during the Coronavirus restrictions.
While it worked for many small businesses, a number of people complained they had been shut out of getting money under the original $350 billion approved by the Congress in March.
There reportedly would also be about $50 billion for a different emergency fund, the Economic Injury Disaster Loan, which was also a vital lifeline for some displaced businesses.
The emerging deal would also include $75 billion for hospitals - money eagerly sought by Democrats, and as much as $25 billion to help with Coronavirus testing.
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