this is "nightline." >> tonight, on the brink. out of work and scrambling to make ends meet. >> all of the bills are rolling in. >> we're with families facing financial uncertainty as the federal lifeline runs out. what republicans are bringing to the table with their new plan. tributes pouring in from kelly to michael to his producer. how he changed television forever. and the voice of john lewis, ringing out one last time. >> there may be some setbacks,

delays, disappointments. >> now the nation's capital paid tribute to the civil rights titan. >> now, "nightline," with byron pitts. the extra 6$600 a week in unemployment benefits. some say it's too much. but for millions, it's the one thing keeping a roof over their heads and food on the table. this woman never used to worry much about paying for she's usually surrounded by meals working at an elementary school. but now, trips to the grocery school are filled with anxiety. >> i spent $41. it was a light shopping day for me. but sometimes this bill can be very, very big. >> reporter: laid off in march,

the mom of two had to rely on the $776 she's receiving every week. a combination of federal and state unemployment benefits. it's a little less than what she was making between her day job and part-time jobs before the pandemic. what does stress look like in your house? >> we struggle to pay bills. with the kids home, it's rough because they eat more, they need clothing, the electricity bill is going up, and the price of good food is going up. >> reporter: next week, the income will be cut down to $176, unless congress comes to the rescue in the next three days. a political standoff as 30 million unemployed americans are caught in the middle. worried their financial lifeline will be taken away. for the past four months,

unemployment benefits have had $600 on top of them. in new jersey, you could have received as much as $1,313 week. in massachusetts, $1,423. in mississippi, they had the lowest amount. >> it's important for stabilizing the economy at a time when so many are out of work. >> reporter: but the federal payment is only guaranteed until july 31st. expiring this week. >> the extra $600 a month from unemployment really helped. going down to $158 a week, i don't know who came up with that figure. but it's not a good one.

>> reporter: keith walker is a hairdresser in virginia. he and his partner used to provide well for their four children. but in this pandemic, almost every aspect of life has become a struggle. >> all of the bills are rolling in. need to be paid. >> reporter: despite the widespread national suffering, extending unemployment benefits has become the latest political battleground. >> we have one foot in the pandemic, and one foot in the recovery. the american people need more help. >> reporter: today, mitch mcconnell introducing the h.e.a.l.s. act, calling for another round of $1,200 checks, but slashing the unemployment benefits to $200. >> when you pay people not to work, what do you expect? >> there are 14 million more unemployed people than there are

job openings. so the idea that there are some disincentives runs counter to the facts. >> reporter: republicans hoping to pay jobless workers 70% of what they used to make. democrats want to keep the $600 payments in place through january. they outlined their plan two months ago, and say republicans and the white house have wasted precious time. >> it doesn't work. it's going to be impossible to implement. >> the republican proposal is a punch in the gut and a slap in the face. >> it's time that this body lead when the president has failed. >> reporter: negotiations have started tonight, but it's likely to take weeks to get the two sides on the same page. while washington debates, benefits for some 30 million americans are hanging in the balance. >> reporter: as the pandemic drags on, and resources run out, she's trying her best to make it through.

how much time do you have left before you run out of time? >> i say maybe a month, if that. >> reporter: i get the sense you've had some nights and days where you've shed some tears about this. >> there have been nights when i woke up wondering, what am i going to do? what is going to happen? you know, crying silently to myself. not knowing what the future holds. >> reporter: i can tell, you're shaking, your legs are shaking. what is going on? >> just this stuff, you know, it weighs on me, that's all. i try to be positive around my children. >> we just heard from a single mother struggling to make ends meet. and to break down how this extra funding plays into the american economy, earlier today i spoke to rebecca jarvis. rebecca, as we just heard, that extra $600 is the difference between making it and not.

put into perspective how the money helps families and the economy. >> right now, we're in the midst of a global pandemic where there's this gigantic hole in our economy. but because of these checks and the stimulus checks that have been put in the pockets of americans, people are spending some money. and that's important. our consumer spending accounts for 70% of our economic behavior. our economy. and whether it's doing well and adding jobs or not doing well and subtracting jobs. as the money moves, it's like the grease in the skids of the economy. it keeps the economy moving as well. >> explain how this new proposal is different. >> right now, what expires as of july 31st is that additional $600 benefit. if you're unemployed, you still get the benefits from your state and local government, but you

won't get the federal amount of money. the new proposal says the new amount would be $200, instead of $600. about 66% less of what would have been going into the pockets of the 30 million americans currently claiming unemployment insurance. >> bottom line, how crucial is this money to the economy? >> it's absolutely crucial, byron. because of that consumer spending that we talked about, the idea being that how we behave as consumers dictates how the economy behaves. if we're spending money and making the economy grow, then employers need to hire, that means more jobs. right now, we're deep in the hole. we need those jobs. and our spending can help and create them. >> rebecca jarvis, thank you so much. >> thank you. coming up, how regis philbin rose to the top of television glory. they've really stood the test of time. much like these majestic rocky mountains.

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♪ he was called one of the hardest working people in show business. regis philbin had the chops to prove it. his charm and commitment to his

craft earning him millions of devoted fans. here's chris connelly with the massive mark this television legend left behind. >> the man gave me the start. >> reporter: from members of the extended tv family brought into being by regis philbin, there was sadness, loss, and sweet remembrance at the passing of a legend. kathie lee gifford remembering her last time together with her longtime on-air apartner. >> i got to laugh again with one of my best friends in my lifetime. >> reporter: and kelly ripa. >> as people get older, you always know that certain things are inevitable. and passing away is one of those things. but regis is one of the people that we all believed, i think,

would somehow figure out a way around the inevitable. >> yeah. >> and, you know, it was not in the cards. >> reporter: and his producer and colleague, michael gelman. >> he was one of a kind. you're not going to see another regis. >> it's live with regis and kathie lee. >> reporter: he put millions at morning ease as the unparalleled master of host chat. with spontaneous, entertaining tales of what happened last night. >> what a day i had yesterday. >> oh, yeah? >> yeah. i did a commercial. >> you are are so hot, regis. there's nobody bigger. >> i had to fly to detroit to do this commercial. >> they flew you? >> reporter: punctuated by regis bursts of exasperation. a host both thoroughlyhlyhlyhl

professional and totally himself. he could do it all on tv. the macarena, milking cows, dodging pies and pedicures. >> not too close! >> you're making me nervous! >> i made an appointment to see my dentist. >> he would talk about nothing and make it the most interesting thing in the world. >> reporter: starting in the mid-'80s, his born in the bronx i'm only one man persona was ideal match for kathie lee gifford. the sparks made them stars. then when it became live with regis and kelly, he clicked with kelly ripa, too. >> he made anybody beside him a star. >> the whole concept of the show

was a faux husband and wife. two people who had their morning coffee, and all these celebrity friends came over. that chemistry really is what made it. >> reporter: another pillar of his appeal, his affection for the audience. >> he would shake the hands of every audience member. it built the audience person by people. >> he became so relatable to the audience at home who felt like they were talking to a friend. that's something we're seeing now in daytime television. the hosts talking about their personal lives in a very relatable way. >> reporter: in 2004, regis set a world record for most time on camera. then over 15,000 hours. >> i hope to be remembered most for -- >> 17,000 hours in front of a television camera. is that enough for you? good evening, er

weomo an to millionaire?" >> reporter: in 1999, he helmed the top-rated show, "who wants to be a millionaire". >> it was "millionaire" that catapulted him to being a television superstar. >> reporter: but there hadn't always been that much to yell about. in a career that began after he graduated from notre dame and served in the navy. >> he started as a page on "the tonight show." >> reporter: by the '60s, he was a sidekick and announcer on "the joey bishop show." >> i haven't buttoned so many buttons since i was a kid. >> reporter: after appearing to

walk off the show in tears. but he never stopped working. >> by the time he got to new york and started "live" with kathie lee, he already had a couple of decades of experience hosting a show. >> reporter: earlier this year, he returned to give his blessing to jimmy kimmel's hosti hosting "millionaire." >> thank you, and i will do my best to carry on your tradition. >> reporter: kimmel tweeting, regis, i hope our friend rickles met you at the pearly gates with open arms. he came of age in a world of old-school celebrities. but even after they had left the scene, the star of regis philbin would burn brightly. >> he was like the last of the show biz generation to make it big. >> when he started the show with

me, i think he was 52 years old. and he had had a lot of ups and downs. that shaped his personality, i think, in a great way. >> our thanks to chris. up next, john lewis, the conscience of congress, coming back to our nation's capital, one more time. or test results to come back. that's why at cancer treatment centers of america, our world-class experts give you the care you need, when you need it. with appointments in as little as 24 hours and rapid test results to get you a personalized treatment plan. because cancer isn't just what we do, it's all we do. call today. appointments available now. so we collaborate ♪ ocean spray works with nature every day to farm in a sustainable way

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♪ and finally tonight, paying tribute to the great john lewis. here's pierre thomas. >> reporter: today, representative john lewis came to washington. his legacy fully embraced by the nation, and saluted by his peers as the conscience of congress. arriving at the capitol just 24 hours after the moment when his caisson crossed the bridge in selma where he and others were beaten in 1965. but now, riding past the african-american museum he was instrumental in creating. the motorcade driving near the

supreme court, where the longtime georgia democrat has fought for voting rights. and at the lincoln memorial where he burst on the scene at the 1963 march on washington. >> we want to be free now! wake up, america. >> history only bent towards what is right because people like john paid the price. >> how fitting it is that in the final days of his life he summoned the strength to acknowledge the young people peacefully protesting in the same spirit of that march. >> reporter: indeed, as he battled cancer in the final days, lewis making a point to visit the black lives matter plaza. today, the house speaker letting lewis give his own eulogy. >> you must find a way to get in trouble, good trouble, necessary trouble. >> reporter: in that 2014 speech, he almost prophetically was urging young people to press onward for freedom for all.

>> there may be some setbacks, delays, disappointment. but you must never, ever give up. >> reporter: the fiery orator was known for being kind, for showing grace. ♪ amazing grace >> our thanks to pierre. it was john lewis who said, never give up, never give in. never become hostile. hate is too big a burden to bear. see you right back here, same time tomorrow. thanks for the company america. good night. from hollywood, it's "jimmy kimmel live." with guest host whitney cummings. tonight, eric andre, and music from rema. and now, whitney cummings. ♪

>> whitney: welcome to "jimmy kimmel live." i'm whitney cummings, your guest host for tonight. i'm here because for a woman to host a network talk show, a man has to go on vacation. i'm kidding, i'm just here because jimmy didn't want to get covid. i'm fine, just so you know, health-wise. i did take a couple covid tests. and as a lady, i gotta say, it's nice to take a test for something that could destroy my life and not have to pee on it. so thanks, science. anyway, i feel like the real reason they picked me to do this is because i'm the only comedian who hasn't been canceled yet, which is so weird. i probably should have been. a long time ago. i've said some very crazy things, but they're all on comedy central, so no one can find them. if you want to cancel me, you literally have to buy a vcr on craigslist. godspeed. i feel like if you guys did tune in to see jimmy and were surprised to see someone like me hosting instead, it's probably like when a guy is on a plane and they see a female pilot walk onboard. at first, they're like, "look at her go. okay, yeah. we have a female pilot. how neat." then as soon as they shut the

door, th'r