On Friday, the US Senate kicked off a marathon voting session – or a so-called vote-a-rama – on amendments to President Biden’s $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief package. Amendments require a simple majority to be added to the bill.
Senator Sanders’ amendment to raise the minimum wage fell short. A vote on the entire bill is anticipated late Friday or early Saturday, reports say. Senate clerks were required on Thursday to read all 628 pages of the bill. The House of Representatives passed a version of the aid bill on February 27.
On Thursday, the US Senate is set to begin debate on President Joe Biden’s $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief package.
On Wednesday, Feb 27, President Joe Biden urged Congress to pass his proposed $1.9 trillion bill saying that if legislation is enacted now, the country can finally get ahead of the COVID-19 virus, which has killed over 500,000 Americans.
“The people of this country have suffered far too much for too long,” Biden said. “We need to relieve that suffering. The American Rescue Plan does just that: It relieves the suffering. And it’s time to act.”
Democrats lowered the income caps for the $1,400 stimulus checks yesterday. Here are the phase-out levels: $75,000 for single filers, capped at $80,000; $112,500 for heads of households, capped at $120,000; $150,000 for joint filers, capped at $160,000.
