COVID-19 $1.9 TRILLION RELIEF PACKAGE FINAL VOTE PASSED BY THE CONGRESS

The House on Wednesday the 10th of March 2021, gave the final vote to the $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief package that will deliver $1,400 stimulus checks to millions of Americans, to broaden enhanced unemployment benefits and boost funding to ramp up vaccine distribution and reopen schools. In less than two months since he took over office, President Joe Biden secured his first legislative win when the 220-211 votes legislation was sent to him for his signature. According to White House press secretary, Jen Psaki, POTUS will sign the bill on Friday, 12th March, 2021. 

The bill was passed in a 50-49 vote by the Senate on Saturday after changes were made to the original version based by the house which includes unemployment benefits and decreasing the number of people who will receive stimulus checks. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, before the vote took place mentioned more than 500,000 people in the U.S have died from the virus and millions more have lost their jobs. She said, " This is a critical moment in our country's history. Today, we have a real opportunity for change." The bill was passed with an almost unanimous Democratic support and with no Republican vote. 

This contrast inflates the political stakes of the measures. The measure will also aim to extend jobless benefits and increase funding for vaccine distribution and schools. House Budget Committee Chair John Yarmuth, D-Ky said, " I am immensely proud that we will soon send this bill to President Biden's desk to be signed into law. We have acted with the urgency that this pandemic demands." This bill will grant $1400 direct payments to individuals making under $75,000 and $2,800 to married couples who make less than $150,000. Those who make up to $80,000 and joint parties who make up to $160,000 will get some money but not the full amount. 

This direct cash includes up to $1,400 per dependent and this includes adult dependents. The bill will broaden the annual child tax credit to $3,600 for children up to age 5 and for children with ages ranging from 6 to 17, $3,000. This bill will provide $300 a week enhanced jobless benefits through September 6. Apart from the direct payments and child tax credits, the big will also provide $14 billion to distribute vaccines and $49billion for COVID-19 testing, contact tracing, and personal protective equipment. Also included in the Bill are $125 billion for K-12  schools and nearly $40 billion for other education. This Bill will also furnish $39 billion in child care grants, $25 billion in rental assistance, and $30 billion for public transit.

The final passage of the move comes after weeks of negotiations between the White House and lawmakers, which saw Republicans'actively attempting to slow down the pace of the process. Also, some obstacles came up with the Democratic caucus when Sen.Joe Manchin of West Virginia considered partnering with Republicans. The House rejected the opposing motion and call for adjournment by Rep. Majorie Taylor Greene, Rita, who called for the bill to be stopped and referred to the measure as a "massive work progressive." The House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., describes the bill as "costly, corrupt and liberal." 

He said "Now, even the Biden White House agrees it is very liberal. They called it the 'most progressive piece of legislation in history." In response to reporters who asked her if this relief bill would be the final one she said, " You are just going to have to ask the virus, if it stops mutating if it stops spreading and therefore mutating, then this will be.' She added, "What is interesting about this virus is that it is resourceful. It mutated. It has variants. And so we must be resourceful and resilient in how we deal with it. We will be on top of it." 

Also, a provision to raise the minimum wage to $15 an hour was removed coming as a huge disappointment to progressives. The Senate Parliamentary said that it violates the rules for the process of bypassing the 60-vote threshold. It also faced some Democratic defections. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., on Wednesday promised that the Covid relief package will make "a big difference" in the lives of Americans. He said, " It does so much good for so many people. And one of our mission is to show people that governmental make their lives better."