The United States Senate has passed a budget resolution allowing the passage of Joe Biden’s $ 1.9tn (£ 1.4tn) Covid-19 aid package in the coming weeks without Republican backing.
The vice president, Kamala Harris, broke a 50/50 stand by casting a vote in favor of the Democratic measure, which sends it to the House of Representatives for final approval. It marked the first time Harris, in her role as Senate President, broke a state of play after being sworn in as the first female vice president on January 20.
On Wednesday, the Chamber adopted its own budget measure. Congress can now work on writing a bill that can be passed by simple majority in both houses, controlled by Democrats. Mid-March has been suggested as a likely date when the measure could be passed, a point at which increased unemployment benefits will end if Congress doesn’t act.
The vote took place Friday at 5:30 am at the end of a marathon senatorial debate, known to senators as a “vote-a-rama,” a procedure that would allow them to theoretically offer unlimited amendments.
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Biden will meet with Democratic House leaders and committee chairmen early Friday morning to discuss Covid’s economic stimulus, and is expected to make public comments on progress at a briefing at 11:45 a.m. EST (1645 GMT).
There was overnight disagreement among the Republicans in the Senate, particularly over plans for a $ 15 federal minimum wage. Iowa Republican Senator Joni Ernst has tabled an amendment to “increase the rate. federal minimum wage ban during a global pandemic ”, it was passed by vote.
Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders said he still intended to implement the measure: “We need to end the starvation wage crisis in Iowa and around the United States.”
He outlined plans to get a pay rise phased over more than five years included in a budget reconciliation bill. The federal minimum wage is currently $ 7.25 an hour and hasn’t been increased since 2009.
In a tweet after the vote, Sanders saidToday, with the passing of this budget resolution to help our working families, we not only have the opportunity to tackle the pandemic and economic collapse – we have the opportunity to give the American people hope and confidence in our government. “
Speaking during the debate, Mitch McConnell, Senate minority leader, said, “Now is not the time for trillions of dollars more to make perpetual lockdowns and economic decline a little more palatable. Despite the actual needs, despite all the talk of bipartisan unity, the Democrats in Congress are plowing on. They’re using this bogus budget to set the table and scour their $ 1.9 trillion rough draft. “
The proposed $ 1.9 trillion aid package would be used to accelerate the Covid-19 vaccines nationwide. Other funds would extend the special unemployment benefits that expire at the end of March and make direct payments to people to help them pay bills and boost the economy. Democrats also want to send money to state and local governments dealing with the worst health crisis in decades.