McConnell blocks immediate Democratic push for $2,000 stimulus checks

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell on Tuesday blocked Democrats' push to immediately bring President Donald Trump's demand for bigger $2,000 COVID-19 relief checks up for a vote.

House OKs $2,000 checks after Trump signs bill containing $600 payments

Democrats led passage, 275-134, their majority favoring additional assistance. They had settled for smaller $600 payments in a compromise with Republicans over the big year-end relief bill Trump reluctantly signed into law.

Unemployment benefits to be delayed by Trump's late signing of COVID-19 relief bill

The $900 billion economic relief package that President Donald Trump signed over the weekend will deliver vital aid to millions of struggling households and businesses.

Nearly 8M have fallen into poverty since summer as US sees largest increase in single year

Poverty in the United States has risen sharply in recent months amid the coronavirus pandemic, with 7.8 million Americans falling into poverty since the summer, according to new data released this month.

McConnell praises Trump for signing COVID-19, government funding bills

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell praised President Trump late Sunday for signing a $900 billion pandemic package and a $1.4 trillion government funding bill to avert a government shutdown.

'It does break my heart a little bit': A bleak Christmas for America's unemployed

Millions of Americans have been jobless since the viral pandemic ripped through the U.S. economy in March, triggering a deep recession and causing widespread unemployment.

House GOP, Dems stymie requests to reconsider stimulus, spending package after Trump grievances

House Republicans and Democrats Thursday blocked each others' "unanimous consent" requests put forward after President Trump aired grievances to the massive coronavirus stimulus and government funding package.

House Dems will try to pass $2,000 stimulus checks this week after Trump signals support

House Democrats are planning to force a vote this week on increasing the size of the stimulus checks included in the $900 billion coronavirus relief package after President Trump demanded Congress raise the payments from $600 to $2,000 per adult.

Layoffs remain elevated as 803,000 seek unemployment aid

The number of Americans seeking unemployment benefits fell by 89,000 last week to a still-elevated 803,000, evidence that the job market remains under stress nine months after the coronavirus outbreak sent the U.S. economy into recession and caused millions of layoffs.

Biden calls COVID-19 bill ‘far from perfect,’ pledges more aid in 2021

President-elect Joe Biden has expressed empathy with struggling families and applauded Congress for a passing the coronavirus relief as the nation deals with a COVID-19 surge.

How much are the stimulus payments and who will get them?

Congress is expected to pass a $900 billion COVID relief bill that includes another round of stimulus checks for most Americans after top negotiators reached a deal over the weekend.

Top Congressional leaders agree on COVID-19 relief deal, next is a vote

The country's top lawmakers agreed to a COVID-19 relief deal late Saturday night, clearing the way for a vote to seal the relief package on Sunday.

US jobless claims rise to 885,000 amid resurgence of coronavirus

The number of Americans applying for unemployment benefits rose again last week to 885,000 as a resurgence of coronavirus cases threatens the economy’s recovery.

Delay in deal on COVID-19 relief, 2nd stimulus check may force weekend sessions for Congress

Congressional negotiators are closing in on a $900 billion COVID-19 economic relief package that would deliver $300-per-week jobless checks and $600 stimulus payments to most Americans.