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| - Senate leader Mitch McConnell said Saturday that Republicans and Democrats were nearing a deal on an economic rescue plan estimated worth well over $1 trillion as the coronavirus pandemic continued to pummel the US economy. Lawmakers were in intense discussions between themselves and with the White House for a deal that could inject massive funds into US businesses and the pockets of millions laid off already as the COVID-19 virus continued to spread. Some expected the talks to spill well into the night on the unprecedented relief-and-stimulus legislation. "Everybody is working hard and they want to get to a solution that's the right solution. I think we're getting very close," said President Donald Trump. "I think we're getting closer and closer to an agreement," said McConnell, the Republican Senate majority leader. "We're clearly going to get there." "Small businesses all across the country have made it clear -- if they're going to keep their lights on and keep their employees on payroll, they need help. And they need it now." Chuck Schumer, the top Democrat in the Senate, added: "We are making very good progress." "We are all eager to come to a bipartisan agreement as soon as is humanly possible," he said. McConnell's proposal includes onetime "recovery rebates" of up to $1,200 for most adults, and hundreds of billions of dollars in loan guarantees to crisis-hit industries, including airlines, and to small businesses. Democrats continued to press for more benefits to go directly to workers who lose their jobs. Schumer demanded a sweeping expansion of unemployment insurance that would provide furloughed and laid-off workers the same monthly pay that they had before the coronavirus crisis erupted. He also called for more support for the beleaguered public health care industry, and for state and local governments which he said are running out of cash. "We must provide -- they are on the front lines," he said. White House officials said the total value of the legislation could hit $1.4 trillion, taking all the extraordinary economic rescue and relief measures announced by the federal government to a massive $2 trillion, or 10 percent of the country's total annual economic output or GDP. Trump said the bill would spread help throughout the economy, which many analysts say faces a sharp recession as business across the country shuts down and people stay at home to avoid contracting the coronavirus. "We are creating a package that's going to keep companies together, keep workers paid so they can live and sustain," said Trump. McConnell planned an initial procedural vote on the bill for Sunday at 3 pm, or 1900 GMT, which could lead to a final vote in the Senate on Monday. The bill would then have to be approved by the House of Representatives, which Democrats control, before being sent to Trump for his signature. elc/pmh/acb
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