Congress Reaches Agreement on $900 Billion Relief Package

On Sunday, leaders of a bipartisan congressional group announced they reached an agreement on a roughly $900 billion COVID-19 coronavirus economic relief bill after eight months of negotiations. The deal comes after Congress passed a two-day stopgap to prevent a government shutdown. The relief bill is expected to aid struggling businesses and unemployed Americans, fund schools, provide help to healthcare providers and renters facing eviction, and sustain other areas of the economy affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. The bill includes $600 stimulus checks for every American, as well as $300 weekly unemployment checks. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) and Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer (D-N.Y.) complimented the deal on Sunday; Schumer said the aid package was "insufficient," but critical to “give the new president a boost, a head start, as he prepared to right our ailing economy.” Congress is set to vote on the package on Monday. The news was widely covered by media outlets across the political spectrum. Coverage from left- and center-rated outlets tended to highlight Schumer's remarks and provide speculation on more stimulus checks. Coverage from the right tended to focus on the details of the current package.