Negotiations on the next COVID response package remained deadlocked, but signs of progress were emerging among the primary negotiators: Speaker Pelosi, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin and White House Chief of Staff, Mark Meadows. The White House team offered a compromise on unemployment insurance and state and local funding, which has not yet been accepted or countered. Issues like pensions, SNAP, post office funding, elections and testing remain unresolved.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell signaled his willingness to agree to a $600 federal unemployment benefit if that moves the process to conclusion. “Wherever this thing settles between the President of the United States and his team that have to sign it into law and the Democrats, a not-insignificant minority in the Senate and majority in the House, is something I'm prepared to support, even if I have some problems with certain parts of it,” McConnell said. CDA had expressed opposition to the continuation of the benefit at that level.

Congressional leaders say they will have a deal by the end of the week, which can be voted on next week. The House and Senate were scheduled to start their August recess next week, but that will have to be delayed in order to complete the relief package.