Pelosi sees negotiations on new $3 trillion COVID-19 relief package

U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi holds her weekly news conference with Capitol Hill reporters in Washington, U.S., May 14, 2020. /Reuters

U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said on Sunday there will be negotiations on the new $3 trillion COVID-19 relief legislation passed by the Democratic-controlled House of Representatives.

Asked if there has been a Republican response or counteroffer to begin negotiations on the bill, Pelosi said on CBS' "Face the Nation" program, "No bill that is proffered will become law without negotiations, so, yeah."

The U.S. House of Representatives on Friday passed the $3 trillion bill aimed at easing the human and economic toll of the COVID-19 pandemic, which has infected more than 1.4 million Americans and killed over 88,000 others.

By a vote of 208-199, Democrats narrowly won passage of a bill that Republican leaders, who control the Senate, and President Donald Trump have vowed to block despite some Republican support for provisions aimed at helping state and local governments.

The 1,815-page relief bill passed on Friday, called the Heroes Act, would extend to all corners of the U.S. economy. It provides some one trillion U.S. dollars for state and local governments, another round of cash disbursements to millions of hard-hit American families, funds for hospitals and health workers, and relief for devastated small businesses.

It would also extend unemployment and food aid; provide rent and mortgage support for struggling households; and pump billions of dollars into virus testing, tracing operations and treatment.

Source(s): Reuters