House Democrats on Wednesday passed a massive $ 1.9 billion COVID-19 bill with the goal of having it on President Joe Biden’s desk by the end of the week, a few days before the major federal unemployment benefits on March 14 for many workers begin to decay.
With a 220-211 vote – without Republicans voting for it – Democrats give Biden a major victory in the law. The White House said it would sign the measure on Friday.
“An overwhelming percentage of Americans – Democrats, Independents and Republicans – have been making it clear for weeks that they support the US bailout plan. Today, with the final passage in the House of Representatives, their voice has been heard,” Biden said in a statement appreciated by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who spoke on the House floor just before the vote.
“Today we have a decision to make tremendous, tremendous consequences. A decision that will make a difference for millions of Americans, that will save lives and livelihoods. And with all those decisions, it is a decision we must make. answer, “she said. “We will give the American rescue plan a resounding and hopefully dual voice to reflect the dual support it has in the country.”
“And we will immediately start working to deliver life-saving resources that emerge from this bill once it is implemented and signed. As we rally with President Biden in the promise, in his promise that help is finally on the way. For the people “For the children, I ask for a ‘yes’ vote,’ she said.
One Democrat joined the Republicans to vote against the measure. Rep. Jared Golden of Maine expressed concern about the cost and scope of the legislation.
The final vote was delayed when GOP representative Majorie Taylor Greene forced a vote on a motion to adjourn, which was apparently defeated.
House Democratic Caucus chairman Hakeem Jeffries, DN.Y., told reporters on Tuesday he was 110% confident his party had the votes to approve the plan without any support from the IDP.
Republicans tackled the price tag.
‘It’s a real tragedy if you look at the package, we know that the results of the package will be middle class tax increases. We know for sure that it contains provisions that are not targeted, it is not temporary we do not relate to COVID, and it does not have to be that way, ‘said the chair of the GOP conference of the House, Liz Cheney, said Tuesday.
“We could have had a bill that was a fraction of the cost of this one, that could get approval and support from two parties, but the speaker decided to go in a different direction. We’re going to be saddled with ‘ a burden, a spending burden, and a tax burden that is really indefensible from the perspective of what it actually achieves, ‘Cheney said.
“I feel sad for them that they are so unaware of the satisfaction of the needs of the American people and unaware of the support that this bill has among Republicans across the country,” Pelosi said Monday.
The legislation originally cleared the House at the end of February, but the chamber had to re-approve the bill after the Senate made changes.
The bill would send $ 1,400 stimulus checks to individuals earning $ 75,000 or less and to couples earning up to $ 150,000. The Senate’s version of the bill has reduced the suitability for the stimulus checks. The payments will be phased out for those earning more than $ 80,000. This means that many who have qualified for this for earlier rounds of assistance will not receive it this time.
Democratic leaders were also forced to cut weekly unemployment benefits to $ 300 from $ 400 with the federal boost until September 6th. The first $ 10,200 income for unemployed Americans earning less than $ 150,000 would be tax-free.
The bill 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 tracing, $ 16 billion for vaccine distribution, $ 130 billion for K-12 education, rental and mortgage assistance funds, restaurant support and more. pubs, funding for nutrition programs and more.
The White House earlier said Americans eligible for the stimulus checks should see payments come to their accounts before the end of the month.
On Thursday, Biden will deliver his first speech “commemorating the one-year anniversary of the closure of COVID-19”, White House press secretary Jen Psaki announced during a briefing on Monday.
“He will discuss the many sacrifices the American people have made over the past year and the serious loss suffered by communities and families. The President will look forward to that and emphasize the role that Americans will play in beating the virus and the country again. to make normal., ‘said Psaki.