WASHINGTON – A vote on President Biden’s $ 1.9 trillion coronavirus rescue package could take place by the end of next week, Mayor Nancy Pelosi said on Thursday.
With former President Donald Trump’s impeachment trial now closed, Congressional attention turns to approving Biden’s “American Rescue Plan”, which includes another round of $ 1,400 checks for eligible Americans and an increase in unemployment federal government, among other provisions.
Democrats decided to take the package to Congress using a rare tactic known as “budgetary reconciliation”, which will allow them to bypass any Republican dissent and approve the bailout with a simple majority vote.
Individual committees have been working on the details of the package, including a possible increase in the $ 15 minimum wage, before being presented to the House floor.
“This will then go to the Rules Committee so that we can vote at some point at the end of next week, it is my hope,” Pelosi told reporters at his weekly briefing on Thursday.
“I feel like we have worked with the team 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, for several weeks, to make sure we stick to the schedule with the American rescue plan, the Biden plan,” she said.
The huge package is Biden’s first legislative fight as president and has been the singular focus of his government, which has refused to publicly weigh in on Trump’s Senate impeachment trial.
Biden and members of his cabinet urged lawmakers to “grow” in another round of coronavirus relief to help the country’s economy after a year of mandatory blockades.
But many Republicans, who presented their own $ 600 billion counterproposal, believe that this major stimulus project is not necessary and would only increase the growing national debt.
Biden also faced the dissent of several moderate members of the Democratic Party, including Sen. Joe Manchin of West Virginia, who called for more targeted stimulus checks.