Senate Stamps COVID Relief; House To Vote On Tuesday

The Senate has passed the $1.9 trillion coronavirus aid bill touted by President Joe Biden, and it will now go back to the House, where it’s expected to be approved in the coming days, CNBC reported.

The Democratic-held House is reportedly going to pass the bill, which includes $1,400 stimulus checks for Americans, new unemployment benefits and more vaccine aid, on Tuesday (March 9), according to CNBC. Then it will go to Biden’s desk for him to sign in order to get ahead of a March 14 deadline after which unemployment benefits expire.

The Senate passed the bill in a 50-49 party line vote, CNBC reported. Republicans questioned the need for more broad spending initiatives.

The approval of the bill brings Biden’s first legislative initiative closer to being law, and Democrats have pushed for big, decisive action to help the economy recover and prevent further stagnation.

CNBC also reported that Biden has said the $1,400 checks will likely start going out this month after the House passes the finalized version of the bill.

“When we took office 45 days ago, I promised the American people that help was on the way,” Biden said in a Saturday (March 6) afternoon press conference, according to CNBC. “Today, I can say we’ve taken one more giant step forward in delivering on that promise that help is on the way.”

As with the previous stimulus checks, the payments will come via direct deposit to bank accounts associated with Americans’ tax returns in previous years. Those who can’t be reached in that manner will get paper checks or debit cards.

There is light at the end of the tunnel regarding the pandemic, but it isn’t over yet, which is why some lawmakers, including Sens. Bernie Sanders, Elizabeth Warren, Sherrod Brown and others want to push another bill to offer recurring stimulus payments and automated unemployment insurance renewals. That, according to them, would help deliver “certainty that they can put food on the table and keep a roof over their heads.”