Senate Democrats struck a deal on Friday night to extend unemployment insurance in President Biden’s $ 1.9 trillion COVID-19 aid package, after deliberating and suspending other actions for approximately nine hours, for one Senate aide.
Why does it matter: The Senate can now resume voting on other amendments to the broader bailout bill.
- Senator Joe Manchin (DW.V.) supported his party’s proposal for emergency unemployment benefits, after hesitating to support an earlier version.
- Helping unemployed Americans has been an issue that has divided progressives, hoping to help constituents who lost jobs during the pandemic, and Manchin and his moderate colleagues who wanted to cut costs with comprehensive legislation.
The big picture: Democrats will now offer an amendment extending $ 300 a week enhanced unemployment insurance until September 6. The bill approved by the Chamber took the program until August 29.
- The agreement also provides tax breaks for those receiving unemployment insurance from the program, making the first $ 10,200 received non-taxable for families with an income of less than $ 150,000.
What they are saying: “The president supports the compromise agreement and is grateful to all the senators who have worked so hard to achieve this result,” White House press secretary Jen Psaki said in a statement on Friday night.
- “Most importantly, this agreement allows us to move forward on the American Rescue Plan urgently needed, with $ 1400 relief checks, funding we need to end the vaccine launch, open our schools, help those suffering from the pandemic and more . “