Washington: U.S. congressional negotiators on Wednesday were "closing in on" a $900 billion COVID-19 aid bill that will include a new round of stimulus checks and extended unemployment benefits, lawmakers and congressional aides said.One source familiar with the talks said the deal also focused on providing aid to state and local governments.
But it was not clear what form such aid would take, since Republicans have resisted another round of direct payments to those entities."Other avenues" were being discussed to deliver such aid, the source said, without providing details.
The aid bill is not expected to include new protections for companies and universities from lawsuits related to the pandemic, the source said.Congressional leaders made.