Pelosi says Democrats are considering adding Covid-19 relief to larger bill

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi told reporters on Wednesday that Democrats are considering adding Covid-19 relief to the larger government funding bill, which could complicate Republican support for the broader legislative package.

"We are working very closely with Rosa DeLauro on the omnibus bill," she said after the House Democrats' weekly meeting, referencing the Connecticut Democratic congresswoman who chairs the Appropriations Committee. "I had thought that it could be possible for us to do a Covid relief package within that bill but fenced off as emergency spending so it doesn't take away from our other domestic non-discretionary spnding."

The four appropriations leaders -— DeLauro, Appropriations ranking GOP member Kay Granger of Texas, Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy of Vermont and ranking GOP member Richard Shelby of Alabama — said in a statement last week they have been negotiating on a larger funding package to meet the funding deadline of February 18. Their statement didn't mention Covid-19 relief.