President Biden speaks on the White Home about efforts to fight COVID-19 on Tuesday.
Evan Vucci/AP
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Evan Vucci/AP
President Biden speaks on the White Home about efforts to fight COVID-19 on Tuesday.
Evan Vucci/AP
Up to date at 12:56 p.m. ET
The Senate permitted President Biden’s $1.9 trillion coronavirus aid plan Saturday, securing further support for American households, employees and companies — and a legislative victory for the Biden administration.
After greater than 24 hours of debate, the evenly divided Senate voted 50-49 to approve the measure. Republican Sen. Dan Sullivan of Alaska was absent as a result of he was in Alaska for a household funeral.
The bundle delivers a brand new spherical of monetary help to People grappling with the impression of the pandemic, together with $1,400 direct funds, an extension of supplemental unemployment advantages and a rise to the kid tax credit score.
People incomes as much as $75,000 and {couples} incomes as much as $150,000 would obtain the total direct funds of $1,400 per individual. However these funds would section out for people and {couples} who make greater than $80,000 and $160,000, respectively.
The earnings cutoff was lowered after reasonable Democrats demanded that the most recent spherical of checks goal lower-income households.
Federal unemployment advantages could be prolonged by means of Sept. 6 on the present price of $300 per week and the primary $10,200 of these advantages could be tax-free for households that earn $150,000 or much less.
Democrats have been below strain to get the invoice to Biden’s desk earlier than present federal unemployment advantages expire on March 14. The finances reconciliation course of allowed them to behave with out Republican backing, requiring solely a easy majority to move the invoice.
Senate Majority Chief Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., signaled Tuesday that Democrats had the assist they wanted to maneuver ahead with the vote. However debate on the Senate flooring was delayed when Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Wis., indicated Wednesday that he’d require Senate clerks to learn the greater than 600 web page invoice on the ground, pushing the vote by a number of hours.
“We have to spotlight the abuse,” Johnson mentioned in a Tweet. “This isn’t a COVID aid invoice. It is a boondoggle for Democrats.”
I will make the Senate clerk learn the Democrats’ $1.9 trillion invoice. All a number of hundred pages of it.
Then I’m going to supply amendments. Many amendments.
We have to spotlight the abuse.
This isn’t a COVID aid invoice.
It is a boondoggle for Democrats.
— Senator Ron Johnson (@SenRonJohnson) March 3, 2021
Senate Minority Chief Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., on Tuesday accused the Biden administration of making an attempt to “jam” Republicans on the laws.
“It’s my hope that in the long run Senate Republicans will unanimously oppose it, identical to Home Republicans did,” McConnell mentioned to reporters.
Home Democrats’ model of the invoice initially included a provision to lift the minimal wage to $15 by 2025, however the Senate parliamentarian determined the supply didn’t match the principles that govern finances payments within the Senate.
The Home might want to revote on the ultimate model of the invoice earlier than it may be signed into regulation. Home Majority Chief Steny Hoyer, D-Md., mentioned in a press release Saturday that the Home will vote on an similar measure on Tuesday.