House Democrats passed a massive $ 1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief bill on Wednesday with the aim of having it on President Joe Biden’s desk by the end of the week, just days before the main federal unemployment benefits begin to expire for many workers on March 14.
By 220-211 votes – with no vote from the Republicans – the Democrats gave Biden a first crucial legislative victory. The White House said it would sanction the measure in law on Friday.
“For weeks, an overwhelming percentage of Americans – Democrats, independents and Republicans – made it clear that they support the American Rescue Plan. Today, with the final approval in the House of Representatives, his voice was heard,” Biden said in a statement praising the House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who spoke on the floor of the House shortly before the vote.
“Today, we have a decision to make with tremendous, tremendous consequences. A decision that will make a difference for millions of Americans, saving lives and livelihoods. And with all the decisions, it is a decision that we will have to respond to,” she said. . “We will give the American Rescue Plan a resounding and hopefully bipartisan vote to reflect the bipartisan support it has in the country.”
“And we will start working immediately to deliver vital resources from this bill as soon as it is approved and signed. As we join President Biden in the promise, in his promise that help is finally on the way. For the people, for children, I ask for a ‘yes’ vote, “she said.
A Democrat joined the Republicans to vote against the measure. Representative Jared Golden of Maine cited concerns about the cost and scope of the legislation.
The final vote was postponed when Republican Representative Majorie Taylor Greene forced the vote on a motion to close, which was defeated.
House Democratic Caucus President Hakeem Jeffries, DN.Y., told reporters on Tuesday that he was “110% confident” that his party had votes to approve the plan without any support from the Republican Party.
Republicans questioned the price.
“It is a real tragedy when you look at this package, we know that the results of this package will be tax increases for the middle class, we know for sure that it includes provisions that are not targeted, are not temporary, they are not related to COVID, and it didn’t have to be that way, “Republican Party conference chairman Liz Cheney said on Tuesday.
“We could have a bill that was a fraction of the cost of it that could have obtained bipartisan approval and support, but the speaker decided to go in the other direction. We will be burdened with a burden, a burden of spending, and a truly indefensible tax burden from the point of view of what it really accomplishes, ”said Cheney.
“I am saddened by them who are so oblivious to meeting the needs of the American people and oblivious to the support this project has among Republicans across the country,” said Pelosi on Monday.
The legislation originally passed the House in late February, but the House had to pass the bill again after changes were made in the Senate.
The account would send $ 1,400 stimulus checks to individuals who earn $ 75,000 or less and to couples who earn up to $ 150,000. The Senate version of the bill has narrowed eligibility for stimulus checks. Payments would be phased out for those earning more than $ 80,000. This means that many who have qualified for previous rounds of relief payments will not receive one this time.
Democratic leaders were also forced to reduce their weekly unemployment benefits to $ 300 from $ 400 with the federal increase through September 6. The first $ 10,200 of income for unemployed Americans under $ 150,000 would be tax-free.
The account also includes a child tax credit that gives families $ 3,000 per child per year.
The legislation also sends $ 350 billion to state, local and tribal governments, $ 50 billion for contact tracking, $ 16 billion for vaccine distribution, $ 130 billion for K-12 education, rental funds and mortgage assistance , support for restaurants and bars, funding for nutrition programs and more.
The White House said earlier that Americans who qualify for stimulus checks must see payments arrive in their accounts before the end of the month.
On Thursday, Biden will make his first prime-time speech “to celebrate the one-year anniversary of the COVID-19 shutdown,” announced White House press secretary Jen Psaki during a briefing on Monday.
“He will discuss the many sacrifices that the American people have made in the past year and the serious losses that communities and families have suffered. The president will look forward, highlighting the role that Americans will have to fight the virus and make the country go back to normal, “said Psaki.