Congress passes Biden’s Covid-19 stimulus bill

President Biden is delivering remarks after his $1.9 trillion Covid relief plan was passed by the House of Representatives. The President is hosting vaccine makers now at the White House.

Biden is set to sign the bill into law on Friday afternoon.

“A vaccinated American is the only way to beat the pandemic, get the economy back on track, and for us to get back our lives and our loved ones. That’s why the American Rescue Plan was so critical,” Biden said.

Biden thanked House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and other lawmakers for passing the bill.

Read more about what is in the relief bill here and use our calculator to see if you qualify for a stimulus check.

Watch more:

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer just signed the $1.9 trillion Covid-19 relief bill on Capitol Hill to officially send the legislation to the White House.

In remarks, Pelosi thanked President Biden and several other lawmakers in both the House and Senate.

“President Biden’s vision and his determination were so apparent to the American people and the reason why this legislation enjoys this support of 75% of the American people in a strong bipartisan way across the country,” Pelosi said. “We thank him for his leadership and also for his contribution to the substance of the legislation as well as his signature when that comes.”

President Biden plans to sign the bill into law on Friday afternoon at the White House.

Schumer also thanked Democrats in both chambers for working together to pass the legislation.

“What do we say to America? Help is on the way. Help is on the way. You’ll receive $1,400 checks by the end of March,” he said.

The Senate leader called the bill “one of the most consequential pieces of legislation we have passed in decades.”

“So this is a wonderful day for America,” Schumer said.  “This is one of the most consequential pieces of legislation we have passed in decades, and you know what we can show America, that we can get things done to make their lives better, and we will continue to do that through the rest of this session. Help is on the way.”

Hear full remarks from Rep. Pelosi and Sen. Schumer:

Travelers walk through in Salt Lake City International Airport, Tuesday, March 9, in Salt Lake City.

Airlines are applauding the house passage of the $1.9 trillion Covid relief bill, which is expected to save 27,000 airline workers from furloughs that were slated to start in just weeks.

In January, United Airlines sent warnings of possible April 1 furloughs to 14,000 employees. A week later, American Airlines told 13,000 employees that they would be furloughed without more federal help. The bill provides a second extension of the Payroll Support Program, which airlines and unions call critical to keeping workers on the job.

President Biden is expected to sign the bill into law Friday, according to the White House.

American Airlines says once that happens, its workers will receive pay and benefits through Sept. 30, 2021. 

“Congress has saved thousands of airline jobs, preserved the livelihoods of our hard-working team members and helped position the industry to play a central role in the nation’s recovery from COVID-19,” an American Airlines statement said.

In a statement, Sara Nelson of the Association of Flight Attendants said the bill will keep aviation workers receiving paychecks and healthcare through September “so we’re in place to meet demand as vaccinations are readily available and travel returns to the skies.”

Just moments after the House passed the $1.9 trillion Covid-19 relief bill on Wednesday, White House Covid-19 senior adviser Andy Slavitt said that the legislation will help the nation through the next stages of the pandemic.

President Joe Biden plans to sign the bill into law on Friday afternoon at the White House.

“Not that Covid-19 is over, but we will now have the resources to support Americans through the next stages,” Slavitt said.

When asked whether he suspects the United States will need another relief bill before the end of the pandemic, Slavitt said he couldn’t “predict the future” and the pandemic has had “plenty of surprises.”

The House of Representatives voted Wednesday to approve a $1.9 trillion Covid relief plan, a top legislative priority for President Biden. The President is expected to sign the bill into law later this week.

Much of the legislation mirrors the plan laid out by Biden in January. But lawmakers did make three notable changes – 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.

Here’s what is in the bill:

Read a more detailed breakdown here.

President Biden praised the passage of the American Rescue Plan moments after it passed the House on Wednesday and vowed to sign it on Friday.

“On Friday, I look forward to signing the American Rescue Plan into law at the White House – a people’s law at the people’s house,” Biden said.

The President thanked “all the members who voted for it, especially Speaker Pelosi, the finest and most capable speaker in the history of our nation.”

Biden’s signature will not appear on the stimulus checks slated to be sent to Americans as part of the relief package, White House press secretary Jen Psaki said Tuesday.

Physical stimulus checks sent to American households last year included a note on the bottom left with then-President Trump’s name. Individuals receiving electronic stimulus payments also received a letter signed by the President.

Psaki said during Tuesday’s White House press briefing that Biden didn’t think the inclusion of his signature on the payments “was a priority or a necessary step. His focus was on getting them out as quickly as possible.”

A third round of stimulus payments is expected to be on the way later this month.

The payments are included in the sweeping $1.9 trillion Covid relief package that was approved in the House today. The checks are worth up to $1,400 per person, including dependents.

So a couple with two children could receive up to $5,600. Unlike prior rounds, families will now receive the additional money for adult dependents over the age of 17.

The income thresholds will be based on a taxpayer’s most recent return. If they’ve already filed a 2020 return by the time the payment is sent, the IRS will base eligibility on their 2020 adjusted gross income. If not, it will be based on the 2019 return or the information submitted through an online portal set up last year for people who don’t usually file tax returns.

Use our calculator below to see what you can expect to get:

The House just voted to approve the Covid-19 relief bill, paving the way for President Biden to sign his top legislative priority into law.

House Democrats passed the legislation on a party line vote of 220-211. No Republicans voted in favor. One Democrat voted against the bill: Rep. Jared Golden of Maine.

White te House press secretary Jen Psaki said today that Biden will sign the bill on Friday afternoon at the White House.

Passage of the bill marks the first major legislative achievement of the new administration and a Congress that is now under full Democratic control, with narrow majorities in the House and Senate.

Key features of the package include:

What happens next: Psaki said, “The bill text will be rechecked, printed, and signed by the appropriate leaders in the House and Senate.” The House clerks will then deliver the bill to the White House for the President’s signature.

After Biden signs the bill, the turnaround time — between it being a more than 600-page bill and money in people’s pockets — could be relatively quick.

People could start seeing the $1,400 stimulus payments hit their bank accounts within days of Biden signing the bill.

The payments do not all go out at once. Those whose bank information is on file with the IRS would likely get the money first, because it would be directly deposited into their accounts. Others may receive paper checks or prepaid debit cards in the ma

Watch Gloria Borger’s analysis below:

White House press secretary Jen Psaki said President Biden plans to appoint someone to lead the implementation of his coronavirus relief legislation, similar to the role he played in 2009. 

“We are also looking ahead to implementation,” Psaki said during Wednesday’s news briefing, telling reporters about Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen’s recent speech on aid to state and local governments. “They are looking for ways to maximize, of course, the impact of every dollar.”

As the House takes a final vote on the package right now, Psaki said the President knows that the passage and signing of the bill is just the beginning.

“I don’t have any personnel announcements today but that will certainly be part of our path moving forward,” Psaki added.

Rep. Jared Golden is seen during a hearing in the Rayburn Building on March 6, 2019.

Rep. Jared Golden of Maine is the first and likely only Democrat to vote “no” on the Covid-19 relief package. This was expected.

Golden released a statement on his decision:

He continued: “I know there are people who will continue to need assistance getting through the final stages of this pandemic, which is why I have argued that Congress should have addressed their needs with a targeted bill that extends unemployment benefits, funds vaccine distribution, and increases investments in our public health infrastructure.”  

President Joe Biden speaks during an event in the East Room of the White House in Washington, DC, on March 8.

President Biden will sign the $1.9 trillion Covid relief bill, his first major legislative victory, into law on Friday at the White House.

The House is currently voting on the package, where it is expected to be approved.

Once passed by the House, Psaki said, “The bill text will be rechecked, printed, and signed by the appropriate leaders in the House and Senate. The House clerks will then deliver it to the White House for the President’s signature,” with that delivery expected “sometime tomorrow.”

The administration, Psaki noted, is “moving full speed ahead on the implementation bill,” citing urgency for the American people.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi speaks on the House floor in Washington, DC, on March 10.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said the vote on the Covid-19 bill is of “tremendous consequence,” describing the legislation as one of the most “transformative” bills she has seen during her time in Congress.

The House is taking a final vote now on the Covid-19 relief bill. Pelosi said she hopes the package is passed in a bipartisan way, to reflect the bipartisan support she says the package has across the country.

The Democratic leader added that, above all, the bill is about American children – ensuring schools are able to open safely, providing economic and food security for families and rental assistance and childcare.

“The Biden American Rescue Plan is about the children. Their health, their education, the economic security of their families,” she said.

Pelosi said the legislation puts money in the pocket of the American people and gives a tax credit to lift children out of poverty.

“How do you say no to lifting children out of poverty?” she said.

“Everything that I mentioned here is related to the coronavirus,” she added.

The House is now voting on the Covid-19 relief bill. This is the final legislative step before the package goes to the White House for President Biden to sign it.

We expect the vote to take about 45 minutes, and lawmakers will vote in groups and not all members will be on the House floor at once. 

The legislation is on track to receive final approval in the chamber after the Senate made a series of revisions to the bill and passed it over the weekend.

Here are key things included in the bill:

Democrats say more government action is needed to shore up the economy, aid in the recovery and deliver relief to Americans who continue to be hurt by the pandemic.

Republicans, however, have criticized the plan as a partisan wish list of liberal agenda items that is not sufficiently targeted, and have so far put up a united front in opposition.

Read more about about the bill here.

The Covid-19 relief bill is expected to get final approval soon in the House after the Senate made a series of revisions to the bill and passed it on Saturday. Once the bill is passed, it will then go to the White House to be signed.

President Biden and congressional Democrats argue that another massive bill is necessary to assist both people in need and the nation at large.

Here’s how Americans could benefit from key features included in the Senate bill:

Who is out of luck? Workers being paid at or just above the federal minimum wage of $7.25 an hour will not see a boost in pay. The Senate parliamentarian ruled in late February that increasing the hourly threshold to $15 does not meet a strict set of guidelines needed to move forward in the reconciliation process, which would allow Senate Democrats to pass the relief bill with a simple majority and no Republican votes.

Undocumented immigrants who don’t have Social Security numbers remain ineligible for the stimulus check payments. But their spouses and children are eligible as long as they have Social Security numbers. They were excluded from the first round.

House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer speaks on the House floor in Washington, DC, on March 10.

House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer – breaking a small House rule to address his remarks to the Chair and not to other members – said that he doesn’t expect any of the Republicans to join Democrats in passing the Covid-19 relief bill. 

Hoyer said only one thing has changed that would alter the bipartisan support garnered by earlier relief bills – the party of the man in the White House.

During the ongoing debate, Republicans have been saying the bill is an expensive, partisan wish list for Democrats.

The $1.9 trillion Covid relief bill that President Biden championed even before taking office is expected to land on his desk shortly after the House passes the legislation.

It could take some time, however, for struggling Americans to see all the benefits.

While the $1,400 stimulus payments could hit people’s bank accounts within days of Biden signing the bill, the extension of federal unemployment benefits as well as the enhanced child tax credit and more generous Affordable Care Act subsidies may take a few weeks — or even a few months — to arrive.

The exact timing would depend on when federal departments can write the guidelines and how long it takes them and state agencies to then implement the new provisions.

When it comes to unemployment benefits, there is little time to waste. More than 11 million Americans are set to start seeing their pandemic unemployment benefits lapse this weekend.

If Biden signs the bill quickly after the House approves the bill, the jobless may see little or no break in payments. But it depends on which state they live in.

The bill passed by the Senate last weekend would continue the existing $300 weekly federal boost and two key pandemic unemployment programs through Sept. 6:

Some states say they expect to be able to continue sending out benefits without pause — as long as they don’t have to make many changes to their unemployment systems.

“If President Biden signs the bill soon and there are no additional program requirements in the bill, we should be able to implement the extensions without any interruption in payments,” said Kersha Cartwright, a spokesperson for Georgia’s Department of Labor. “That is a lot of assumptions, though.”

Read more here.

From left to right, Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, and Rep. Jason Smith speak on the House floor in Washington, DC, on March 10.

Members of the House are debating the $1.9 trillion Covid-19 relief bill right now. They are expected to take a final vote on the bill soon.

Here is what both sides are saying:

Democrats:

Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, the Democratic caucus chair, says the package is all about helping Americans who are struggling. He said during his remarks on the House floor today that Congress needs to act with urgency.

“The Covid-19 pandemic is a one in a century crisis. It requires once in a century comprehensive, compassionate and continuing congressional response. That is what the American Rescue Plan is all about,” he said.

Jeffries pointed out that more than 500,000 people have died from the virus and more than 100,000 businesses have closed during the pandemic. He also said the money is needed to help people that are dealing with food insecurity and homelessness, as well as to revive the economy.

“We will build back better for the people. Help is on the way,” Jeffries added.

Other Democrats echoed Jeffries comments, repeating the phrase “help is on the way” several times. They also said the public supports the bill.

Republicans

House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy said Democrats have not tried to pass a relief plan with bipartisanship, and called the package a “missed opportunity” to focus on the real needs of Americans.

He said the bill will cost taxpayers more than $5,000 each, saying it is one of the most expensive bills in American history.

McCarthy said the American Rescue Plan is “very liberal” and “in both the House and Senate, the only bipartisan vote has been against this.”

Rep. Jason Smith, a Republican from Missouri, also argued the bill was a “partisan process” and Congress should focus on “timely and targeted relief to support those who need it most.”

“From the very beginning of this process Republicans have been saying that this bailout was never about Covid relief, but rather about Democrats trying to notch some wins for their political base. Appease their allies, rather than help Americans,” Smith said.

Watch Rep. Hakeem Jeffries:

Watch House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy:

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer speaks during a news conference in Washington, DC, on March 6.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer expressed confidence in the final passage of the Covid-19 relief bill today, describing it as the the “most sweeping federal recovery package in recent history.”

The “House of Representatives is set to approve the American Rescue Plan and send it straight to President Biden’s desk for his signature. Capping a month long effort by Democrats to pass bold Covid relief to defeat the pandemic and boost our economy,” the New York Democrat said.

“Once President Biden signs the bill into law, it will immediately become the most sweeping federal recovery package in recent history,” he continued.

The Senate passed their version of the bill on Saturday. The chamber made some notable changes to the the version initially passed in the House, including narrowing eligibility for stimulus checks, trimming the federal boost to jobless benefits and eliminating an increase in the federal minimum wage.

President Joe Biden speaks from the State Dining Room at the White House on March 6 in Washington, DC.

President Joe Biden’s $1.9 trillion rescue plan is getting high marks from business leaders.

Seventy-three percent of the CEOs and business leaders polled during Wednesday’s virtual Yale CEO Caucus support Biden’s American Rescue Plan. That includes 37% who indicated “strong” support for the package.

This suggests the C-Suite is even more supportive of the plan than Americans at large, as a CNN poll released Wednesday showed 61% of the public supports the legislation.

But business leaders are also concerned the Biden plan may be too expensive. Of the leaders polled by Yale, 61% say the $1.9 trillion package goes too far, while just 27% say it is just right.

“But they still like it. There’s a paradox,” said Jeffrey Sonnenfeld, founder of Yale’s Chief Executive Leadership Institute.

Parker, the American Airlines CEO, said there will always be those who think something can be done for less.

“That’s not the bigger point,” he said. “The bigger point is there is broad public support for this bill. And that’s certainly true among those of us that are running airlines.”

Lawmakers are debating the $1.9 trillion Covid-19 relief plan now on the House floor. If passed in the chamber, it will then go to President Biden’s desk to be signed into law.

Key features of the package include:

Action on the bill was briefly stalled when Republican Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene called for a motion to adjourn, a move she has repeatedly used to disrupt the floor schedule and that has frustrated even members of her own party.

The final vote on the motion to adjourn failed 149-235, with 40 Republicans voting against the motion.