Congress

Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said a fresh round of $600 stimulus checks could start going out to Americans as soon as next week, much faster than the first batch of payments that Congress approved earlier this year.

After months of stalled negotiations, congressional leaders on Sunday night announced they had reached a bipartisan deal on a roughly $900 billion coronavirus relief package.

Congress is poised to include a ban on "surprise" medical bills as part of its massive year-end spending package that lawmakers are expected to vote on Monday. 

Congressional leaders reached a compromise on a $900 billion coronavirus relief deal on Sunday after months of on-and-off negotiations and debate, with each party blaming the other for blocking stimulus efforts. 

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell on Sunday evening said lawmakers have reached a long-awaited coronavirus relief bill, though it will be hours before the full details are made public.

Congress is considering countermanding the Treasury with tax benefits worth hundreds of billions of dollars for business owners.

Sen. Ron Johnson blocked a last-minute push by his Republican colleague Sen. Josh Hawley on Friday to secure a $1,200 stimulus check for American families still reeling from the coronavirus pandemic. 

A top Republican senator warned the government could briefly shut down over the weekend as top congressional leaders from both parties race to finalize a $900 billion coronavirus relief deal that will be married to the massive omnibus spending measure.

Negotiations over another coronavirus relief package are poised to spill into the weekend as congressional leaders scramble to overcome last-minute policy disagreements and reach a bipartisan deal on roughly $900 billion in emergency aid.