The House approved President Biden’s $ 1.9 trillion COVID aid package in a vote of 219-212 early Saturday morning send it to the Senate for a possible rewrite before it gets to Biden’s desk.
The big picture: The vote was a critical first step for the package, which includes $ 1,400 cash payments for many Americans, a national vaccination program, more intensive COVID testing and contact tracking, state and local funding, and money to help reopen schools.
- Two Democrats – Representatives Jared Golden (Maine) and Kurt Schrader (Ore.) – voted against the bill along with Republicans.
What to watch: The bill is likely to undergo an overhaul in the upper house after the Senate MP ruled that the $ 15 minimum wage increase cannot be added to the aid package.
- The House kept the minimum wage hike in its plan, but that was mostly to keep progressive Democrats on board before stripping it down in the Senate.
- At a press conference Friday, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and other Democratic leaders insisted that they were not worried that progressive Democrats might not vote for a final bill with the Senate changes.
- “There is unified support for this transformational legislation in the House Democratic caucus. There is no fair to partially cloudy picture” of the package, said caucus chairman Hakeem Jeffries.
The highlights of the bill:
- More federal funding for COVID programs, including $ 46 billion for testing and tracking; $ 7.6 billion for pandemic response to community health centers; $ 5.2 billion to support research, development, and manufacturing of vaccines, therapies, and other medical products; and $ 7.7 billion to expand the public health workforce.
- $ 1,400 in incentive payments for Americans earning less than $ 75,000. Individuals making between $ 75,000 and $ 100,000 would received less, with a cap on those making more than $ 100,000.
- $ 128.6 billion to help reopen elementary schools.
- $ 350 billion in state and local aid.
- $ 25 billion in aid to restaurants and other food and beverage outlets.
- $ 19 billion in rental emergency assistance.
- $ 7.25 billion in Paycheck Protection Program loan funds.
- Unemployment benefits would be extended through August 29, and supplemental benefits would increase from $ 300 to $ 400.