House Passes Biden Aid With $1,400 Checks; Focus Moves to Senate
- Bill includes $1,400 payments, enhanced jobless benefits
- Biden hopes to sign bill before March 14 benefits cutoff
The U.S. Capitol building in Washington, D.C..
Photographer: Sarah Silbiger/BloombergThis article is for subscribers only.
The U.S. House passed President Joe Biden’s $1.9 trillion pandemic-relief plan, spanning $1,400 stimulus checks, enhanced jobless benefits and fresh funding for vaccines and testing. Also included: a minimum-wage measure with no prospects of passing in the Senate.
The 219 to 212 House vote was a stark contrast to the previous pandemic relief bills enacted last year, which drew strong bipartisan support as the Covid-19 death toll surged. No Republicans voted in favor of the bill, while two Democrats -- Jared Golden of Maine and Kurt Schrader of Oregon -- voted against the measure.