Washington: The US House on February 27 approved a $ 1900 billion pandemic relief bill. Through this package by President Joe Biden, financial assistance will be provided to the individuals, businesses, states and cities facing the crisis due to the covid-19 pandemic. The bill was passed by 219 votes against 212 in the House of Representatives.
The bill will now be sent for Senate approval, where Democrats may relent on the issue of raising the minimum wage and there may be a dispute over government aid and other issues.
“To my colleagues who say this bill is bold, I say it’s bloated,” said House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif.
“To those who say it’s urgent, I say it’s unfocused. To those who say it’s popular, I say it is entirely partisan,” he added.
Moderate Democratic Reps. Jared Golden of Maine and Kurt Schrader of Oregon were the only two lawmakers to cross party lines. The battle is also emerging as an early test of Biden’s ability to hold together his party’s fragile congressional majorities _ just 10 votes in the House and an evenly divided 50-50 Senate.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., offered encouragement, too, calling a minimum wage increase “a financial necessity for our families, a great stimulus for our economy and a moral imperative for our country.” She said the House would absolutely approve a final version of the relief bill because of its widespread benefits, even if it lacked progressives’ treasured goal.