House passes the $ 1.9 trillion COVID aid package

House approves President Biden’s $ 1.9 trillion COVID aid package in a 219-212 vote early Saturday morning, sending him to the Senate for a possible rewrite before he reached Biden’s office.

The whole picture: The vote was a critical first step for the package, which includes $ 1,400 in cash payments for many Americans, a national immunization program, accelerated COVID testing and contact tracking, state and local funding, and money to help schools reopen.

  • Two Democrats – Representatives Jared Golden (Maine) and Kurt Schrader (Ore.) – joined Republicans in voting against the bill.

What to look for: The bill will likely be revised in the upper house after the Senate lawmaker decided that the $ 15 minimum wage increase cannot be added to the aid package.

  • The chamber kept raising the minimum wage in its plan, but that was mainly to keep progressive Democrats on board before it was eliminated in the Senate.
  • At a news conference on Friday, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and other Democratic leaders insisted they were not worried that progressive Democrats could not vote for a final bill with Senate amendments.
  • “There is uniform support for this legislation to transform the Democratic caucus of the House. There is no fair to partially blurred image” of the package, said Caucasus President Hakeem Jeffries.

Key aspects of the bill:

  • Expand federal funding for COVID programs, including $ 46 billion for testing and monitoring; $ 7.6 billion for pandemic response to community health centers; $ 5.2 billion to support research, development and manufacturing of vaccines, therapeutics and other medical products; and $ 7.7 billion for expanding the public health workforce.
  • $ 1,400 incentive payments for Americans making less than $ 75,000. People who earn between $ 75,000 and $ 100,000 would do it receive less, with a cap for those earning more than $ 100,000.
  • $ 128.6 billion to help reopen K-12 schools.
  • $ 350 billion in state and local aid.
  • $ 25 billion in aid for restaurants and other food and beverage facilities.
  • $ 19 billion in emergency rental assistance.
  • $ 7.25 billion in funds for payroll protection program loans.
  • Unemployment benefits would be extended until August 29, and additional benefits would increase from $ 300 to $ 400.

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