Here is how the day is unfolding. All time Eastern.
Mar 05, 2021, 8:25 PM EST
Deal reached on unemployment benefits after 8 hours
After eight hours of inaction, Democrats have reached an agreement among themselves on how to proceed with jobless benefits with Sen. Joe Manchin, of West Virginia, on board.
Senate Democrats will now offer an amendment to extend the enhanced UI program through Sept. 6 at $300 per week, according to a Democratic aide. The House-passed bill was through Aug. 29.
The agreement also provides tax relief to workers who received unemployment insurance compensation by making the first $10,200 of UI benefits nontaxable for the first time to prevent surprise bills for the unemployed at end of year, which was not in the House-passed legislation. The provision applies only to households making under $150,000.
The agreement also extends tax rules regarding excess business loss limitations for one additional year through 2026.
-ABC News' Trish Turner
Mar 05, 2021, 8:26 PM EST
GOP senators make voices heard amid stall over unemployment provisions in COVID bill
Several Republican senators held a press conference Friday evening as the Senate entered its fifth hour of being paralyzed over how to proceed on amendments related to unemployment insurance. (It's now been about six hours since the last vote was called).
The Republicans said that a handful of moderate Democrats -- including Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va. -- are being "worked over" by Democratic leadership and told that they cannot vote with Republicans on Sen. Rob Portman's, R-Ohio, amendment that would reduce weekly jobless benefits to $300 and end the program in July. Democrats have their own amendment that would reduce the jobless benefit to $300 weekly but extend the program through September and make the first $10,200 paid out untaxable.
Sens. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., and John Thune, R-S.D., both said they believe Biden is speaking with moderate members over the phone and pressuring them not to vote with Republicans -- though ABC has not confirmed that.
Senator Lindsey Graham speaks during a news conference as the Senate continues to debate the latest Covid-19 relief bill, at the Capitol in Washington, March 5, 2021.
Olivier Douliery/AFP via Getty Images
"It's now five and half hours actually since the last vote started. And because there was an amendment that we were prepared to offer that actually had bipartisan support, the Democrats have actually gone back behind closed doors and - as Senator Graham pointed out - tried to get the president on the line to try to pressure a couple of people not to work with Republicans," Thune said.
Graham said the stall makes Biden's call for unity on inauguration day "ring hollow" and that Democrats who may support the Portman amendment are being punished for bipartisanship.
"This break out of bipartisanship has lead to the Senate coming to a halt because they want it their way or no way," Graham said."There is some bipartisanship we believe to change the bill, but apparently that's an unpardonable sin on the other side. We believe we have some Democrats who read the bill yesterday and found some things they didn't like, sat down with some Republicans to find a better way and the result is we've done nothing for four hours and 20 minutes to break somebody's political arm."
Thune, the Republican whip, conceded that he does not yet know if there would be enough Republican support on the Portman amendment to pass it, but he does believe there are several Democrats who might support it.
-ABC News' Allison Pecorin
Mar 05, 2021, 5:12 PM EST
Biden holds roundtable with people who would benefit from relief bill
On Friday afternoon, Biden hosted three guests for a roundtable to discuss what the passage of the COVID relief bill would mean for them as well as for their communities.
The people Biden spoke with shared their personal stories of struggle during the pandemic as Americans wait to find out what additional aid will be coming their way.
"People in our country are hurting right now, with less than two weeks from enhanced unemployment checks being cut out, and seven million kids don't have enough food -- 13 million people are behind in their rent," Biden said.
President Joe Biden holds a roundtable meeting with Americans who will benefit from the COVID-19 pandemic relief checks that are a part of the American Rescue Plan on March 5, 2021, in Washington, D.C.
Samuel Corum/Getty Images
"It's gonna provide immediate relief for millions of people that are going to be able to use it in a very constructive way, and also grow the economy in the process," Biden promised of the package, which hit a snag on Friday over unemployment benefits.
"It is clearly, clearly necessary, a lifeline for getting the upper hand against COVID-19 and getting it under control. That isn't some academic discussion, it's about you. It's about people like you and families I grew up with all over America," he said.
Alma Williams, a paratransit driver from Greenbelt, Maryland, told the president "it's just a hard time, financially, mentally, emotionally, like across the board for children, adults, you know."
George Kerr, a Navy veteran who lost his home in a fire last year, has experienced housing instability worsened by the pandemic. A member of the LGBTQ community, he spoke not only about his own challenges, but the importance of the mental health services provided in the bill for LGBTQ seniors who are feeling isolated.
"Mental health is just a real important, and I'm glad to see there's a lot of money in there for mental health services, because it's incredibly important," Kerr said.
Lyda Vanegas, who helps run Mary's Center, which provides health care, education and social services to 60,000 people in the D.C. area, referred to George Kerr's experience and related it to what her own community is facing.
"He just breaks my heart because it's the same situation, they're losing jobs, that's the main thing, you know that. And with that, they have unstable housing, food insecurity, searching, traveling long distances to go and visit this site, the food distribution side. And that's, every day, they do long lines and the next day they have to do the same," she said of her clients.
-ABC News' Sarah Kolinovsky
Mar 05, 2021, 4:34 PM EST
Biden to hold press conference 'before the end of the month': Psaki
Biden has yet to hold a formal press conference 45 days into his administration, despite 15 of his predecessors having done so within that time frame.
When asked about the delay, White House press secretary Jen Psaki said a press conference would be held “before the end of the month” and argued Biden’s focus was on the country.
