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"We
are in a very different place than we were a year ago or six
months ago," Jen Psaki told reporters at the White House, citing
job creation, economic growth, low unemployment levels and
higher vaccination rates.
"We're in constant conversations," Psaki said, adding she had no
specific comment on any potential new actions.
Recent economic data has shown U.S. private payrolls that are
increasing more than expected, strong holiday retail sales and
easing supply chain woes. Still, the fast-spreading Omicron
variant of COVID-19 has dented some sectors as some events are
canceled or postponed, and staffing is disrupted by positive
cases.
The Washington Post earlier reported that Democratic and
Republican members of Congress were discussing another possible
round of COVID-19 stimulus spending amid the fast-spreading
Omicron variant that would target restaurants, performance
venues, gyms and minor league sports teams.
Democratic U.S. Senator Ben Cardin separately told CNN a
bipartisan group is exploring whether Congress could aid
restaurants and other comparable industries hit by the latest
wave in cases but that there is no formal proposal yet.
"Leadership is encouraging us," Cardin said, according to a CNN
reporter on Twitter.
The White House declined to comment to the Washington Post, as
did two lawmakers cited as behind the talks.
Such a measure, if passed by Congress and signed into law by
U.S. President Joe Biden, would be the latest federal relief
package as the ongoing novel coronavirus pandemic enters its
third year.
Biden, a Democrat, approved the $1.9 trillion "American Rescue
Plan" in March 2021.
Former Republican U.S. President Donald Trump approved nearly
$900 billion in coronvirus-related funding in December 2020 as
part of a larger $2.3 trillion pandemic aid and spending
package.
Before that, Congress had allocated $3 trillion to combat the
pandemic that shut down much of the United States in March 2020.
(Reporting by Trevor Hunnicutt; writing by Susan Heavey in
Washington; additional reporting by Shivam Patel in Bengaluru;
Editing by Andrew Heavens and Chizu Nomiyama)
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