Claudia Grisales

Economics, politics and science correspondents round up new developments in the federal response to the coronavirus crisis, including President Trump's comments during an afternoon press conference.

Three members of Congress have tested positive; more than a dozen are in quarantine. A move to remote voting would break a longtime institutional tradition of voting in person.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer negotiated late into the night with Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and spoke hopefully of a deal coming together on Tuesday.

"There is a health risk of having all of us in the Capitol at the same time," said one congressman. Electronic communications have improved since remote voting was considered in the early 1990s.

The bill, which still needs to be negotiated with Senate Democrats, provides direct cash payments, loan guarantees for impacted businesses and more resources for testing and development of vaccines.

The Senate approved a new package earlier Wednesday providing paid sick leave and boosting testing for the coronavirus.

Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said discussions included payments to small businesses, loan guarantees for industries like airlines and hotels, and a stimulus package for workers.

The House is in recess, but senators return to Washington this week to take up the House-passed financial aid bill to address the economic threat to workers posed by the coronavirus.

President Trump met with Senate Republicans Tuesday on Capitol Hill to discuss economic measures to boost markets that have been battered by uncertainty around coronavirus.

The focus remains on keeping Congress open. There haven't been any discussions of shutting down public galleries or limiting tours.

The Utah senator had been wavering as to whether to agree to a subpoena for an ongoing inquiry. A spokeswoman said Romney had been assured the process would not be a "public spectacle."

The emergency funding deal is the result of bipartisan negotiations in both the House and the Senate. The measure is expected to be sent to the president's desk soon.

Lawmakers voiced concern Friday about the Trump administration's messaging on the outbreak. They backed the medical response, but pressed for more information and test kits from public health experts.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell says he expects senators to take up the plan in the next two weeks.

The Emmett Till Antilynching Act was overwhelmingly approved on a bipartisan vote. "It's never too late to repudiate evil," Rep. Bobby Rush said.

The House of Representatives overwhelmingly voted to classify lynching as a federal hate crime. The vote came at the end of Black History Month.

Democrats in Nevada are heading to caucus sites across the state to pick the candidate they want to run against President Trump in November.

The Democratic presidential primary hits a new phase on Saturday in Nevada — a state with a more diverse electorate. Campaigns are reaching out to Latino voters to turn out.

Latino voters who have already showed up to the Nevada caucus say they are focused on economic issues and proposals from Democratic candidates — not just what they say about immigration.

Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., led the effort to pass a bipartisan war powers resolution to end the president's ability to launch further strikes against Iran. The Trump administration has vowed to veto it.