(GNB Desk): U.S. House of Representative approved President Biden’s $1.9 trillion coronavirus relief package early on Saturday morning after working through Friday night.
Every Republican voted against the bill, as did two Democrats. On Thursday, the Senate parliamentarian ruled that a minimum wage hike, supported by President Biden, could not be included in the bill. The relief package now moves to the Senate, where another vote will take place.
The proposal would provide a new measure of financial support for workers, families and businesses, including direct payments of up to $1,400 for eligible individuals and couples, an expansion and extension of supplemental unemployment benefits and an increase to the child tax credit. Also, in the bill is $25 billion for emergency rental assistance and an expanded tax credit for low-income workers without children.
“Tonight, Congress is taking action to crush the virus,” Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., said on the House floor, calling the legislation “transformative” at mitigating poverty. “We are putting money in workers’ pockets… As President Biden has said, help is on the way.”
Federal unemployment benefits expires on March 14. The Senate will have just over two weeks to make changes to the bill before it expires. No Republicans in the Senate are expected to support the legislation, having balked at the price tag.
“We already know what is the best stimulus plan out there,” House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy said at a press conference Friday. “It’s to fully reopen our economy. To do that, we need our economy to go back to work, back to school and back to health.”
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