US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi stressed on Sunday that Congress had only about 48 hours to agree on a coronavirus stimulus relief bill if it wanted to get one passed before the November presidential election.
"We're seeking clarity," Pelosi said during an interview with ABC.
"The 48 hours only relates to if we want to get it done before the election, which we do."
The on-again-off-again negotiations between Pelosi, a Democrat, and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, a Republican, have dragged on for months without bringing the two sides close enough to make a deal.
Meanwhile, key benefits such as enhanced unemployment benefits and assistance to small businesses have expired since Congress passed its first coronavirus relief measures in March.
Pelosi stressed that many of the agreements are related to language and what the bill would or wouldn't require the government to do.
The White House has proposed responsibility for testing and tracing to stop the spread of coronavirus be left up to the states, a move Democrats oppose.
Pelosi said following a Saturday night phone call with Mnuchin, she remained hopeful a package can get passed but said the results of the negotiations will ultimately lie with the Trump administration.
Pelosi and Mnuchin will speak again on Monday.
Australian Associated Press
