(CNN)The House's sweeping coronavirus relief bill that had been barreling through Congress now appears to have hit a speed bump amid objections by Republicans and a suggestion by President Donald Trump that the Senate would make further changes to the measure.
The first objection came from Rep. Louie Gohmert, a Texas Republican, who vowed to block "technical corrections" to the bill that House Speaker Nancy Pelosi had been negotiating with Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin. Gohmert said Congress needed time to review the matter, meaning that final action could be delayed until next week when the House returns from recess, unless lawmakers change their schedule and reconvene earlier or a deal is reached beforehand.
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Also, Trump told reporters "we may very well be adding something" to the bill, despite his public endorsement of the measure on Friday night.
"I think they may make it even better," Trump said of the Senate. "Look, they're working with the House, working very much in unison like the question before. They're working to only enhance it and make it better and make it fair for everybody. And that's what we're looking to do. So we may go back and forth with the House a little bit, but both will be in a very positive fashion."
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The developments suggest that the bill, which had been negotiated by Pelosi and Mnuchin behind closed doors and backed by a bipartisan House majority, could await final action for several days or even longer if further talks hit a snag. And the news raises more questions about how quickly Congress can enact an even bigger stimulus measure, aimed in part at boosting industries hit hard by the impact of the coronavirus.
The measure, which passed the House by a 363-40 vote early Saturday morning, would ensure individuals have access to free testing for the disease, ensure displaced workers have access to paid leave, bolster unemployment insurance benefits, expand food stamps and increase federal funding for Medicaid programs. Some Republicans object to several of the provisions in the bill, particularly the paid leave program and its potential impact on businesses throughout the country.
On Monday, Gohmert said he raised concerns to both Trump and House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, who also supports the House-passed bill.
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"The last draft of the 'technical changes' I saw was 87 pages long," Gohmert said in a statement. "I cannot in good conscience give my consent to something that has not been finished or made available to members of Congress before it is up for a vote."
"If we putz around here, we are losing time," said Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, a West Virginia Republican
Sen. Joni Ernst, an Iowa Republican, said she supports moving quickly on the House bill.
The developments come after the Senate scrapped its own recess this week to consider the House bill -- and as senators return to Washington uneasy about the risk they and their staff face by staying in session.
Indeed, prospects appeared to grow slim Monday that the Senate could speed up its schedule this week, but those discussions are expected to intensify when senators return later in the day, given they've been out of session since Thursday. And the schedule may be in flux until after the parties' weekly Tuesday lunches. Democrats are expected to have a conference call for their weekly Tuesday lunch as opposed to meeting in person, an unusual move reflective of how fears over the virus are upending the Senate.
This week, senators have to deal with not only the coronavirus bill, but also a measure to renew key authorities under the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, which expired on Sunday.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell told reporters that senators were trying to "process both of these measures" and "discussions have been underway over the weekend" and "we're hoping to move with dispatch on both."
Asked if senators would recess after passing those measures, the Kentucky Republican said: "We'll let you know." He ignored a question about whether he supports the House coronavirus bill as written.
But some of his GOP colleagues are trying to push for more changes to the bill.
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"I don't think the House bill is going to pass the Senate as it is written for one basic problem: It doesn't go far enough and it doesn't go fast enough," GOP Sen. Tom Cotton of Arkansas said on the floor of the Senate, referring to the bill's system for small businesses to get tax credits for paid leave for their displaced employees.
On Monday evening, the Senate is scheduled to hold a procedural vote on a bill to renew key FISA authorities after they expired Sunday. Sen. Rand Paul and other senators have demanded amendments to the legislation -- and it's uncertain that Kentucky Republican would allow the measure to quickly pass once senators defeat a filibuster Monday evening.
If Paul and other senators don't agree to speed up the FISA bill, it could delay final passage until Wednesday or Thursday. The coronavirus bill would not be able to be considered until the FISA bill passes the Senate -- unless an agreement is reached to take it up sooner.
This story has been updated with additional developments Monday.
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