Lawmakers, finally, reached an agreement over the next round of pandemic relief measures, reported the Wall Street Journal. The $900 billion package, developed by a team of Democratic and Republican lawmakers, includes the following provision:

 

* $600 direct payments for each adult, plus an additional $600 for every dependent, with sums tapering out for individuals making over $75,000 or married couples making more than $150,000.

* $300 in supplementary unemployment insurance payments which, like the last round of aid, also includes non-W2 employees such as gig workers. The time period in which unemployment can be claimed has also been extended from 26 to 50 weeks. Those with both wage and self-employment income can claim an additional $100 if basic unemployment benefits don't account for the self-employment income.

 

* An extension of the federal eviction moratorium to the end of January 2021, along with $25 billion in renters' assistance. The Treasury Department would apportion the rental assistance funding to states based on their population.

 

* $284 billion for two more rounds of Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) funding as well as $20 billion for Economic Injury Disaster Loans. Local media companies are also now included for eligibility.

 

* $9 billion for health care providers, $4.5 billion for mental health care, $1 billion for the National Institutes of Health to conduct more research on the virus.

 

* $82 billion for schools.

 

* $22 billion for testing and tracing.

 

* $20 billion for vaccine purchases and distribution.

 

* $17 billion for the airline industry.

 

* $12 billion for small banks.

 

* $15 billion for independent movie theaters, live entertainment venues and cultural institutions.

 

* $13 billion for farmers and ranchers.

 

* $15 billion for rail and other mass transit.

 

* $10 billion in extra funding for the postal service.

 

* The continuation of the Employee Retention Credit; the allowance of taxpayers to use their 2019 rather than their 2020 tax information for certain credits; the expansion of renewable energy tax credits; new deductions for business meals; the five-year extension of tax incentives for hiring in low-income areas and hiring those from disadvantaged groups; and making permanent cuts to excise taxes on beer, wine and spirits that had been set to expire at the end of the year.

Missing from final deal are aid to state and local governments, which Democrats wanted, and a broad liability shield for businesses, which Republicans wanted. These two points became roadblocks in negotiations, as neither party wanted to move from its respective position, and so eventually both were sacrificed in the name of getting a bill passed.

Barron's reports that a final vote could take place as early as today, at which point the president is expected to sign it. We will update this story as new details emerge.