With Congress wrapping up the 2020 legislative session, a number of important battles have been left unresolved. Although Democrats and Republicans have reached agreement on several issues, including a $900 billion COVID-19 relief package, other significant issues remain unresolved.
The most pressing issue facing Congress is the looming expiration of expiring unemployment benefits and eviction moratoriums, both of which are set to expire on Dec. 26. Without Congressional action, millions of people could lose their benefits after the holidays. Some members of Congress have expressed interest in preserving extended unemployment benefits, but it remains unclear if an agreement can be reached.
On the Division of 2021 spending, negotiations between Democrats and Republicans on a wide-ranging Fiscal Year 2021 budget and spending package have been stalled for several months. The disagreement comes as both sides appear to be unwilling to budge from certain priorities.
Other issues in Congress that remain unresolved are the Paycheck Protection Program, providing relief to small businesses devastated by the pandemic, and a domestic climate change policy. Democrats have pushed for the passage of the Biden administration’s highly ambitious climate change agenda while Republicans have pushed for a more moderate approach.
The end of the Congressional session leaves a number of urgent issues for Congress to take up when they reconvene in 2021. If an agreement cannot be reached on these issues, the economic recovery could be significantly delayed.
