Lawmakers on Wednesday made encouraging progress in the race toward approving a fresh round of coronavirus relief ahead of a December 18 deadline on federal spending.

Leaders from both parties continued to negotiate on Wednesday, working toward a new framework for additional Covid-19 stimulus funding, which includes payments to individuals, jobless aid, and renewed funding for struggling small businesses facing new lockdowns and surging Covid-19 cases. Two sticking points--funding for state and local aid, which Republicans opposed, and additional liability protections for businesses, which Democrats opposed--have been dropped, leaving a package of less than $900 billion.