Trump administration backs partial extension of unemployment benefits through year-end

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – United States Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said on Saturday that the Trump administration supports extending unemployment benefits until the end of the year in the next round of coronavirus aid, albeit at a level reduced.

The administration and the United States Congress have been trying to reach an agreement on the next aid package, as the improved unemployment benefits of $ 600 per week that Congress previously approved in the pandemic expire on July 31.

Mnuchin said he had spoken Friday with the top Democratic Speaker in Congress, Speaker of the House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi, who said she does not want a short-term extension of unemployment insurance.

“We also don’t want a short-term extension, we want something until the end of the year,” said Mnuchin, who was on Capitol Hill Saturday with White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows to meet with Majority Leader staff. of the Senate. Mitch McConnell finishing the package details.

Mnuchin said last week that Republicans were considering an extension of unemployment benefits that replaces 70% of wages, an idea he repeated on Saturday. “We want to make sure that there is a technical correction, so that people don’t get more money to stay home than to work,” he said.

Mnuchin said he expected the initial language of the legislation to emerge on Monday.

Meadows suggested an agreement on a separate unemployment benefit bill could be reached before the July 31 deadline, leaving time for other matters to help Americans deal with the economic slowdown of the pandemic.