Updated 3/10/21 at 2:14 PM
Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) – Congress has sent President Joe Biden the landmark $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief bill. The House approved the bill Wednesday over solid Republican opposition in a vote that gives the new president and Democrats a victory just seven weeks after he took office.
Biden tweeted that “help is here” and said he would sign the bill on Friday. The 628-page measure represents Democrats’ effort to bridle the catastrophic pandemic and revive the enfeebled economy. Republicans say the measure is bloated, crammed with liberal policies and heedless of signs the dual crises are easing.
The Senate passed the measure over unanimous Republican opposition four days ago.
Washington (WBAP/KLIF) – The House of Representatives is slated to take a final vote Wednesday to approve President Joe Biden’s $1.9 trillion coronavirus relief plan.
Final passage will pave the way for the President to sign his top legislative priority into law later this week and deliver aid to most American households amid the pandemic.
Key features of the plan include up to $1,400-per-person stimulus payments that will send money to about 90% of households, a $300 federal boost to weekly jobless benefits, an expansion of the child tax credit of up to $3,600 per child and $350 billion in state and local aid, as well as billions of dollars for K-12 schools to help students return to the classroom, to assist small businesses hard-hit by the pandemic and for vaccine research, development and distribution.
White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki talked up the bill:
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Meantime, U.S. Senator Mike Lee (R/UT) joined “Fox and Friends” saying the bill does not go directly towards coronavirus relief, and is instead going directly to states that don’t need the money.
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Final passage is scheduled early this afternoon.
(Copyright 2021 WBAP/KLIF 24/7 News. This report contains material from The Associated Press.)
