Biden’s US stimulus package approved for $ 1.9 trillion

“The help is here,” Biden tweeted after the vote. The White House said the president plans to sign the law on Friday.
The 220-211 approval in the Democrat-controlled lower house came without any Republican approval after weeks of partisan debate and disagreement in Congress. Democrats have described the legislation as an urgent response to a pandemic that has killed more than 528,000 people nationwide and left millions out of work.

“This is a historic day. It is the beginning of the end of the great COVID depression.”said Democratic Representative Jan Schakowsky.
Republicans have argued the measure is too expensive and comes after the worst phase of the biggest public health crisis in a century has passed.

“It’s the wrong plan at the wrong time for a lot of the wrong reasons,” said Republican lawmaker Jason Smith.

Democrats were eager to get final approval from Biden’s office for his signature before current federal unemployment benefits expire on March 14.

The House, which passed an earlier version of the bill last month, was due to reconvene to give the green light to changes made to the Senate over the weekend.

The House rejected an attempt by Republican Marjorie Taylor Greene to delay proceedings by calling for a postponement, which it has attempted four times since taking office in January, voting 235-149 to go ahead, with 40 Republicans joining Democrats in rejecting Greene’s efforts.

By Susan Cornwell and Makini Brice, from Reuters