Congress passed a sweeping year-end bill to provide long-delayed coronavirus relief and fund the government, capping off a months-long fight for more assistance. 
The Senate voted 91-7 on the $2.3 trillion package, which includes $1.4 trillion to fund the government and $900 billion in coronavirus relief, the first time Congress has passed additional aid since April. 
The bill, which passed the House earlier Monday, now goes to President TrumpDonald TrumpTrump signs bill extending government funding for 24 hoursCongress passes one-day stopgap bill ahead of shutdown deadlineWhat is in the 0 billion coronavirus relief billMOREs desk, where the White House has said he will sign it. Because Congress also passed a seven-day continuing resolution (CR) on Monday, Trump has until the end of Monday, Dec. 28, to sign the bill into law.
Passage of the bill follows growing pressure for Congress to act before wrapping up their work for the year as cases of coronavirus are steadily spiking, states and cities are reinstating lockdown measures and public health officials are warning of a brutal winter even as two vaccines are starting to be administered. 
None of us think this legislation is perfect but a big bipartisan majority of us recognize the incredible amount of good it will do when we send it to the presidents desk. The American people have waited long enough. Im glad for our country that were now moving ahead together, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnellAddison (Mitch) Mitchell McConnellTrump signs bill extending government funding for 24 hoursSurprise medical bill prevention included in year-end legislative packageCongress to pass deal with 0 stimulus checksMORE (R-Ky.) said on Monday ahead of the vote. 
The mammoth package, which totaled 5,593 pages, wasnt publicly released until just hours before the Senates vote. The combined omnibus-coronavirus legislation is among the largest spending bills ever considered by Congress. 
The coronavirus relief-portion of the bill doesnt include the biggest priorities for Republicans and Democrats liability protections and more money for state and local governments, respectively. 
But it does include $284 billion for another round of small business aid through the Paycheck Protection Program, a $300-per week federal unemployment boost for 11 weeks, a round of $600 stimulus checks for those making up to $75,000, as well as more money for schools, hospitals and an extension of an eviction moratorium. 
The government funding portion includes $1.375 billion for 56 miles for Trumps border wall, $5 million to create a database to track police misconduct, $153 million for programs to better community relations with police and a 3 percent pay raise for the military and a 1 percent pay raise for the civilian federal workforce. 
Because its the final package passing Congress this year, its emerged as a legislative Christmas tree for unrelated items, including greenlighting the American Latino and Womens History museums, a long-stalled energy bill, a proposal ending surprise medical billing and a provision helping states eradicate the so-called “murder hornet. 
The White House has said Trump will sign the deal, with spokesman Ben Williamson saying that the president has pushed hard for months to send Americans badly needed financial relief. 
It was not guaranteed that Congress would be able to get a deal following months of gridlock between congressional Democrats and the White House and even at times disagreements between Senate Republicans and the White House. 
The House passed a $3.4 trillion coronavirus relief bill in May and a slimmed down $2.2 trillion bill in October, neither of which were taken up by the GOP-controlled Senate. 
Meanwhile, Senate GOP leadership, after hitting pause for months, offered a $1.1 trillion package that was immediately panned from within the caucus with McConnell predicting he could lose up to 20 GOP senators. It was never given a vote. The GOP leader then offered two roughly $500 billion packages, which failed upon party lines. 
Talks between Democrats and the White House broke down shortly before the election and were stuck in a stalemate when a bipartisan, bicameral group, frustrated with the inability for leadership to break a deal, began talks in mid-November that stretched over dinner meetings and Zoom calls. 
It was just a month ago, I was reminded — November 17, apparently — that I had an opportunity to invite some colleagues over to my house for dinner and conversation. And while it wasn’t pizza, it didn’t make any difference what we were eating. It was all about the conversation and what we could do to be responsive to the urgency of the need, said Sen. Lisa MurkowskiLisa Ann MurkowskiSenators reach deal on Fed powers, setting stage for coronavirus relief passageCoronavirus relief deal hinges on talks over Fed lending powersEx-teachers union leader seen as leading candidate for Biden’s Education secretaryMORE (R-Alaska). 
When we presented the multi-hundred-page package to the public, to the administration, to leadership, we basically said: Here is a gift. Take it, she added. 
The group composed of members of the House Problem Solvers Caucus and centrist senators including Susan CollinsSusan Margaret CollinsCongress clinches sweeping deal on coronavirus relief, government fundingCoronavirus relief deal hinges on talks over Fed lending powersLawmakers expect COVID-19 relief deal soonMORE (Maine), Joe ManchinJoseph (Joe) ManchinThe Hill’s Morning Report – Presented by Mastercard – Congress slogs toward COVID-19 relief, omnibus dealSen. Alexander plays Christmas carols in Senate office buildingDemocratic leaders under pressure to agree to slimmed-down COVID-19 relief dealMORE (W.Va.) and Murkowski offered a $908 billion package divided into two sections. The first $748 billion piece included widely accepted ideas like PPP aid and school and vaccine funding. 
The second piece included $160 billion for state and local funding and liability protections. In underscoring their politically tricky nature, Manchin was the only Senate Democrat from the group to support the second piece. 
Leadership has credited the bipartisan group with helping break the stalemate by prodding them toward the areas that garnered broad support. 
The final deal dropped those two most contentious pieces as part of a frenzy of around-the-clock negotiations that started in earnest on Tuesday, Dec. 15, when McConnell, House Speaker Nancy PelosiNancy PelosiWhat is in the 0 billion coronavirus relief billSurprise medical bill prevention included in year-end legislative packageCongress to pass deal with 0 stimulus checksMORE (D-Calif.), Senate Minority Leader Charles SchumerChuck SchumerWhy AOC should be next to lead the DNCSenators reach deal on Fed powers, setting stage for coronavirus relief passageCoronavirus relief deal hinges on talks over Fed lending powersMORE (D-N.Y.) and House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthyKevin Owen McCarthyCongress clinches sweeping deal on coronavirus relief, government fundingCongress barrels toward veto clash with TrumpSunday shows preview: US rolls out first doses of coronavirus vaccine; Congress close on stimulus dealMORE met twice in the Capitol with Treasury Secretary Steven MnuchinSteven MnuchinWhat is in the 0 billion coronavirus relief billNegotiators resolve last-minute issues as COVID-relief bill moves toward finish lineSenators reach deal on Fed powers, setting stage for coronavirus relief passageMORE phoning in. 
By Wednesday morning, leadership appeared close but talks dragged on for days amid several hangups, requiring Congress to pass a two-day CR on Friday night to buy themselves more time until Sunday night. A deal was struck on the final snag emergency lending facilities under the Federal Reserve on Friday night. 
In a boon to Sens. Bernie SandersBernie SandersWhat is in the 0 billion coronavirus relief billCongress to pass deal with 0 stimulus checksThe most turbulent election in a generation, and for all the furor nothing changedMORE (I-Vt.) and Josh HawleyJoshua (Josh) David HawleyWhat is in the 0 billion coronavirus relief billCongress to pass deal with 0 stimulus checksCongress races to clinch coronavirus deal as shutdown loomsMORE (R-Mo.) who emerged as an 11th hour odd couple coronavirus aid will include a second round of stimulus checks, which Mnuchin said some Americans could receive starting next week. Though the checks are half of the $1,200 the duo was pushing for, neither McConnells latest proposal or the bipartisan package included a second round of checks.
Leadership announced a deal on the overall package early Sunday evening, though printing and computer errors delayed release of the text on Monday with the down-to-the-wire effort sparking pushback. 
The squad a coalition of progressives that includes Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-CortezAlexandria Ocasio-CortezWhy AOC should be next to lead the DNCAOC v. Pelosi: Round 12?Rice selected over Ocasio-Cortez for spot on Energy & Commerce panelMORE (D-N.Y.), Ayanna PressleyAyanna PressleyPressley: Direct payments are ‘survival checks,’ not stimulusAOC v. Pelosi: Round 12?Pressley calls Georgia GOP candidates ‘the Bonnie and Clyde of corruption’MORE (D-Mass.), Rashida TlaibRashida Harbi TlaibPerdue, Ocasio-Cortez spar on Twitter over Georgia racesLawmakers face hurdles to COVID relief dealBiden economic team faces challenge in delivering help to Black communitiesMORE (D-Mich.) and Ilhan OmarIlhan OmarOmar accuses Trump of ‘dangerous criminal neglect’ on COVID-19 responseProgressives celebrate Biden’s historic pick of Haaland for Interior SecretaryPerdue, Ocasio-Cortez spar on Twitter over Georgia racesMORE (D-Minn.) voted against the rule setting up the Houses debate on the package. 
This is why Congress needs time to actually read this package before voting on it. Members of Congress have not read this bill. Its over 5000 pages, arrived at 2pm today, and we are told to expect a vote on it in 2 hours. This isnt governance. Its hostage-taking, Ocasio-Cortez tweeted Monday. 
Meanwhile, fiscal hawks in the Senate grumbled over the burst in year-end spending. 
We are $27 trillion in debt today. How do we expect a child to have the economic opportunity when this crushing debt is their inheritance from Congress? Sen. Rand PaulRandal (Rand) Howard PaulGOP lawmakers are showing up more frequently on NewsmaxKrebs emphasizes security of election as senators butt headsFake accounts posing as GOP leaders on Parler are selling Trump hats and CBD oil: reportMORE (R-Ky.) said in a floor speech. 
Congress is already turning its attention to the fight next year over a potential sixth package. 
Democratic leadership is characterizing the package that passed Monday as a downpayment pledging that they will push for more after Jan. 20, when President-elect Joe BidenJoe BidenTrump signs bill extending government funding for 24 hoursWhat is in the 0 billion coronavirus relief billCongress to approve .375 billion for border wall in 2021MORE is sworn in. 
We advance this bill today as a first step. We have new hope which springs from the vaccine and from the commitment President-elect Biden has to following science.  We are ready for the next step, Pelosi wrote in a letter to Democrats shortly before Mondays vote.
But theres no guarantee more help is on the way, or that theyll be able to get an agreement that resolves the thorny fights on state and local money or protections from coronavirus-related lawsuits. 
Which party will control the Senate next year will be determined by the two Georgia runoff elections on Jan. 5. 
McConnell is already doubling down on his red line that any coronavirus legislation in 2021 will have to include liability protections a demand viewed as anathema to Democrats who worry it will hollow out worker safety standards. 
“I think liability relief is really important, McConnell said during a Fox News interview Monday. And if there is another coronavirus relief bill after the first year of the year, I’m going to insist that liability protection for these universities and healthcare providers is a part of it.