- Pelosi says the Democrats are preparing for a vote on the floor by the end of next week.
- She also said House Democrats are communicating with the Senate to ensure the bill complies with strict budget rules.
- Democrats want to introduce the package by mid-March to prevent the expiration of federal unemployment programs.
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Speaker Nancy Pelosi said Thursday that House Democrats plan to draw up a floor vote for President Joe Biden’s $ 1.9 billion federal rescue package by the end of next week. But she also acknowledged that there were still some procedural hurdles before the bill could be signed.
The California Democrat said at her weekly press conference that the Democrats in the House want to vote on the package by the end of February.
“At the same time, there is communication with the Senate about what the Byrd rule will allow in the bills as we move forward,” Pelosi said, referring to part of the reconciliation process the Democrats are using.
The conciliation procedure is a shortcut by which Democrats can approve the package by a simple majority of 51 votes, instead of the 60 normally required to thwart a Republican filibuster.
Reconciliation, however, has strict guidelines, and the most important is the Byrd rule. It outlines that every provision in a bill must be related to the federal budget to succeed. The Senate MP interprets the rule, and this has led experts to believe that elements of the bill that are not related to taxes and spending will not survive the process.
The race until mid-March
Democrats are rushing to approve the package before the expiration of the enhanced unemployment insurance on March 14, a timeline that leaves very little room for error. The House Budget Committee announced on Monday that the final relief bill will begin with the compilation of the legislation.
The proposal’s current House proposal offers $ 1,400 stimulus checks and $ 400 federal unemployment benefits, and also begins gradually with a minimum wage of $ 15. It also includes funding for vaccine distribution, virus testing, and state and local governments, among others.
Republicans argue that spending levels are too high after Congress passed a $ 900 billion package in December. Last year, lawmakers and President Donald Trump allocated $ 4 billion in emergency spending to combat the pandemic.
The IDP has sharply criticized the $ 15 minimum wage as a step that would cost jobs. The senator can also strike it out of the final package.
Progressive is in favor of the measure as a critical wage increase for hourly workers, as Congress has not lifted wages for more than a decade.
“Honestly, given the composition of the Senate, this is our best opportunity and the right moment in the midst of this pandemic to increase millions of workers for a long time,” Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.), Chairwoman of the Progressive Caucus, told reporters on Thursday.
Democrats are also starting to look ahead to their next legislative priorities, which could include a million-dollar infrastructure package. On Wednesday, Biden met with the best labor leaders in the White House to begin recruiting support from allies.