Biden's Historic Victory for America

Senate passes Biden’s $1.9 trillion Covid-19 relief bill -- No Thanks to GOP

CNN/Stylemagazine.com Newswire | 6/18/2021, 7:56 a.m.
The Senate on Saturday passed its version of the Democrats' massive coronavirus relief package, after the House passed its package …

BIDEN’S HISTORIC VICTORY FOR AMERICA

Opinion by Julian Zelizer, www.CNN.com – Newswire

The Senate on Saturday passed its version of the Democrats' massive coronavirus relief package, after the House passed its package last week.

Lawmakers made several changes throughout the legislation, but three were particularly notable -- narrowing eligibility for the stimulus checks, trimming the federal boost to unemployment benefits and nixing an increase in the federal minimum wage to $15 an hour.

Much of the Senate legislation, however, largely mirrors the $1.9 trillion package approved by the House and laid out by President Joe Biden in January.

Senate Democratic leaders faced more hurdles to advancing the legislation since the party can't afford to lose a single member thanks to the 50-50 split in the chamber. Plus, they must adhere to the strict rules of reconciliation, which they are using to approve the bill without any Republican support.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer had vowed Thursday to stay in session to finish the bill this week, though Republicans were trying to drag out the process. The bill now goes back to the House for a vote and then onto the White House for Biden's signature.

Time is of the essence. An estimated 11.4 million workers will lose their unemployment benefits between mid-March and mid-April unless Congress passes its next coronavirus relief package quickly, a recent study by The Century Foundation found.

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