Congress has not agreed on a new coronavirus relief deal in over five months.

But the Senate this week swiftly began confirmation hearings for Judge Amy Coney Barrett, President Donald Trump’s Supreme Court nominee.

Most of the $3 trillion in benefits approved over the spring have dried up.

Meanwhile, tens of millions of Americans are in financial pain because of the pandemic, with no additional federal support.

Jobless figures have ballooned because of the public-health crisis, though the unemployment rate has declined from a historic high in April. The Labor Department reported 898,000 initial unemployment claims were filed in the week that ended Saturday.

In a nutshell, about twice as many people are out of a job now than before the pandemic — roughly 12 million people.

With the Nov. 3 election less than three weeks away, tempers are beginning to flare as a renewed sense of urgency over passing relief aid continues to mount.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi wants a large, comprehensive $2.2 trillion plan to provide a package of aid that includes a second stimulus check. “Nobody is waiting till February,” Pelosi said on CNN Tuesday. “I want this very much now, because people need help now.”

President Donald Trump wants a different, smaller $1.8 trillion bill and a second direct payment that could increase the check size for families by changing an important qualification. “STIMULUS! Go big or go home!!!” Trump tweeted Tuesday.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell wants the Senate to pass a scaled-back standalone bill next week to fund more payroll assistance, with no additional check.

McConnell said it likely will weigh in at around $500 billion and contain funds for hospitals, schools, enhanced unemployment benefits and the Paycheck Protection Program, a popular federal loan program for small businesses that has expired without congressional action.

Trump earlier this month said that a deal on a stimulus package wouldn’t be reached in the short time left before the election and the desire to quickly confirm Barrett led to the decision. Barrett’s confirmation hearings began Monday.

Still, with millions of Americans out of work and in increasingly desperate straits, some lawmakers are growing more vocal with their fears about the risks of not reaching an agreement quickly.

Democrats fear that if Trump loses the election he’ll be in no mood to bargain.

While chances are dwindling of a stimulus deal before the election, Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin remains hopeful the White House and Democrats can come together.

And if they can’t, he said a package will be passed after Trump wins in November.

A compromise needs to be reached. Now. America’s families — Democrat and Republican — are hurting.

— JGG