WASHINGTON • US President Joe Biden scored his first legislative win as the House of Representatives passed his US$1.9 trillion (S$2.5 trillion) coronavirus relief package, though Democrats faced challenges to their hopes of using the Bill to raise the minimum wage.
Democrats, who control the Chamber, passed the sweeping measure yesterday by a mostly party-line vote of 219 to 212 and sent it on to the Senate, where Democrats planned a legislative manoeuvre to allow them to pass it without the support of Republicans.
The American Rescue Plan would pay for vaccines and medical supplies and send a new round of emergency financial aid to households, small businesses and state and local governments.
Democrats said the package was needed to fight a pandemic that has killed more than 500,000 Americans and thrown millions out of work.
"The American people need to know that their government is there for them," House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said in a debate on the House floor.
Republicans, who have broadly backed previous Covid-19 spending, said much of the current package was not necessary, highlighting elements like a subway near Ms Pelosi's San Francisco district.
Only 9 per cent of the total would go directly towards fighting the virus, they said.
"It just throws out money without accountability," House Republican leader Kevin McCarthy said.
The House vote amounted to a successful first test for Democrats, who hold a narrow 221-211 majority in the Chamber.
Progressives and moderates in the party who are often at odds will face tougher battles ahead on immigration and climate change initiatives that Mr Biden wants to push.
The President has focused his first weeks in office on tackling the greatest US public health crisis in a century, which has upended most aspects of American life.
Democrats aim to get the Bill to him to sign into law before the middle of next month, when enhanced unemployment benefits and some other types of aid are due to expire.
The legislation heads to the Senate, where it was expected to be amended and then sent back to the House for a final vote in Congress.
The Bill could change substantially during Senate consideration.
While it included a marquee progressive proposal to raise the federal minimum wage to US$15 by 2025, that measure has been ruled out of order by a top Senate official, who said it did not qualify under the strict budgetary rules governing reconciliation Bills.
Senate Democrats were exploring alternatives that would allow them to maintain a version of the wage increase in the stimulus package without jeopardising the broader plan.
REUTERS, NYTIMES
