Live stimulus bill updates: House to vote on Biden s $1.9 trillion COVID bill Wednesday Nicholas Wu and Michael Collins, USA TODAY
Senate passes $1.9 trillion COVID relief bill, but third stimulus check not in mail yet
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The Democratic-controlled House passed a key procedural measure Tuesday evening setting the stage for the chamber to pass the bill Wednesday morning.
Under the “rule” passed by the House on a 219-210, mostly party-line vote, the House will debate for two hours before voting on the legislation.
Rep. Jim McGovern, D-Mass., praised the bill as a “lifeline” rather than a “Band-Aid” to address the fallout of the pandemic.
Biden plans to sign the historic legislation into law on Friday, after which point the aid will start flowing rather rapidly from the government’s coffers.
‘We will crush the coronavirus’: House gives final approval to $1.9T COVID relief bill in major win for Biden Dave Goldiner, Chris Sommerfeldt
The House gave a final thumbs up on Wednesday to a $1.9 trillion coronavirus relief bill jam-packed with direct aid for workers, businesses and states, handing Joe Biden the first major legislative victory of his presidency as he seeks to beat back the pandemic and rev up the cratering U.S. economy.
The so-called American Rescue Plan which bankrolls $1,400 stimulus checks to taxpayers among various other relief passed the Democrat-controlled House in a near-party line 220-211 vote, with only one centrist Democrat, Maine Rep. Jared Golden, joining all 210 Republicans in opposition.
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Democrats are mulling including a provision to negotiate drug prices in an infrastructure bill.
Savings on government spending on prescription drugs could help pay for the infrastructure projects.
The government could save as much as $345 billion, according to the Congressional Budget Office.
Congressional Democrats want to crack down on drug prices to help pay for President Joe Biden s infrastructure package, according to several lawmakers, including House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.
Such a provision would be included in a package that lawmakers hope to pass as early as July 4 if they can gain enough support for it.