WASHINGTON (SBG) – Congress is inching closer to a bipartisan COVID-19 relief deal, and it's coming down to one commitment from both parties.

“We agreed we will not leave town until we have made law," said Republican Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell in a speech on the Senate floor Wednesday. "The $900 billion plan that appears close to being agreed to was double the price tag of the original Republican proposal, and less than half of what Democrats passed in the HEROES Act back in May."

So far, the plan includes money for vaccine distribution and an unemployment extension with an extra $300 per week. It also includes $325 billion for small business relief,  including $257 billion for the Paycheck Protection Program, which helps employers keep workers on the job.

As of now, it does not include money for state and local governments or a liability shield for business -- two of the most contentious proposals. 

Many Democrats, including President-elect Joe Biden, are calling it a good first step.

"It’s a down payment, an important down payment on the end of January into February. But its very important to get it done, I compliment the bipartisan group in working to get it done," Biden said during an event Wednesday in which he nominated former South Bend, Indiana (and former presidential rival) mayor Pete Buttigieg to be his Secretary of Transportation.

One of the final touches of the legislation appears to include a joint request from one of the most conservative and one of the most progressive members of the Senate, Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Missouri, and Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vermont, respectively.

Hawley earlier this week discussed it on the Senate floor.

“The amendment that Sen. Sanders and I have proposed is so common sense: $1,200 for individuals, $2,400 for families, $500 for every child."

Last week, Sen. Bernie Sanders discussed his stance that direct payments must be included.

"When a national emergency occurs, the United States government must respond," he said.

The direct payments agreed on will likely be closer to $600 or $700 per individual. In an interview Wednesday, Rep. Steve Stivers, R-Ohio, expressed confidence the deal would pass.

 “The thing that I like about this package is that it’s targeted, it helps the people that need it, but it’s not wasting money because it’s important to remember all this money is borrowed," he said.

Sen. Joe Manchin, D-West Virginia, who helped craft the bipartisan bill, said this Wednesday:

"I’m always looking for that deal. That’s what people expect us to do you have to compromise to make a deal if you want to hold your position you get nothing done and we’ve seen the stalemate.”