Democrats Hold Position in Demands for COVID-19 Relief Bill as Impasse Persists

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), with Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), speaks to reporters following a meeting at the Capitol with White House chief of staff Mark Meadows and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin on a COVID-19 relief bill, in Washington, on Aug. 1, 2020. Manuel Balce Ceneta/AP Photo

Top Democrats are doubling down on their demand for expanded unemployment benefits to continue as part of a COVID-19 package, warning that lowering the payments would threaten overall U.S. economic recovery efforts.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), one of her party’s lead negotiators on the deal, noted that there has been progress but “we’re not there yet.” She said that there will be no bill for a short-term extension of the expanded benefits.