No progress on coronavirus relief package

Lawmakers go home for the weekend while many Americans fear for their futures - NBC's Jay Gray reports

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Lawmakers are going home for the weekend without any progress on a new coronavirus relief package. They break with several deadlines still looming.

Funds from the first stimulus measure are running out, and millions of Americans are struggling. Many are out of work and in fear of losing their homes. With the $600 supplemental payments ending, nearly 23-million families face possible eviction orders.

Businesses reman locked down, and millions remain out of work.

"It's been very-- very difficult." said Cindy Crowe from New Orleans.

And it's getting harder.

Republicans who struggled to reach an agreement on a new relief package are going home for the weekend without beginning negotiations with Demcrats.

The primary sticking point - expanded unemployment benefits, which expire at the end of the month.

"This is the United States of America, so let's find out how we can work together and go forward." said Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, (D - California).

Many who need the funds are now also facing an end to the moratorium on evictions. Single mom Mercedes Borges just got an eviction notice.

"Every parent wants to give their kid a home, somewhere safe to be." said Borges.

She is getting some last-minute assistance from local county funds. Still, as many as 28-million families are in jeopardy of losing their homes.

With the virus continuing to spread faster than at any other time during the pandemic, President Trump continues to push for schools to re-open.

"We cannot indefinitely stop 50-million American children from going to school, harming their mental, physical, and emotional development." said the president.

The CDC issued broad recommendations Friday for classes to resume. The guidelines call for enhanced sanitation, social distancing, repurposing buildings, moving classes outside, and keeping small groups together through the day. However, that doesn't ease the concerns of many parents and doctors.

"Here's the bottom line, when community transmission is high, it is risky to open schools." said Dr. Vivek Murthy, a former U.S. Surgeon General.

So much seems so risky right now, with infections and fears growing across the country.

In a recent survey, 1-in-4 adults either missed their last home payment, or are worried about making their next one.