A bipartisan group of senators ended a long-running standoff and struck a compromise Thursday that would extend jobless benefits for 2 million Americans who have been out of work the longest.
If the Senate approves the election-year measure — as seems likely — it would throw the issue to the Republican-run House. Its fate there was uncertain.
The timing of a Senate vote also was unclear.
Two leaders of the negotiations — Sens. Jack Reed (D-RI) and Dean Heller (R-Nev.) — said the deal would be retroactive to the end of last year, when the emergency benefits program expired.