Congress tries to move quickly to provide short term relief for coronavirus

Congress is expected to vote as early as Thursday on emergency-funding legislation to ease the economic impact of the coronavirus. But passage of a bigger, more comprehensive package will likely take longer as the White House and congressional Democrats work out their spending priorities.

President Trump has asked for a payroll tax cut, and his other priorities purportedly include financial relief for the airline, hotel and other travel-related industries.

Congressional Democrats led by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi have suggested that a coronavirus stimulus-relief package include fortifying unemployment insurance and paid sick leave.

Pelosi also purportedly wants to ensure that the National School Lunch Program, which provides meals to tens of millions of children from low-income families, is operational as classrooms across the country continue to close.  

Just last week, Trump signed an $8.3 billion spending package from Congress that largely provides federal agencies with additional money for coronavirus prevention and treatment.

Congress will have to act quickly on a second round, consider it adjourns Thursday for a mid-term recess.

The U.S. now has more than 1,000 confirmed cases of the deadly virus, which has spread across the globe from China, since being detected in that country in late-2019. 

Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin is reportedly going to lead negotiations with Pelosi in the House, in which most spending bills originate. The chamber is expected to vote as early as Thursday, then send the measure to the Republican-controlled Congress.