After a floor debate that lasted into early Saturday morning Eastern Time, the House passed H.R. 1319, the Biden Administration’s initial COVID relief bill. In the end, the vote was 219 – 212, with two Democrats joining all Republicans in opposing the package.
The legislation now heads to the Senate, where the minimum wage provisions will need to be stricken due to a ruling from the Senate Parliamentarian. Other provisions may change along the way as well.
The goal of the Biden Administration and Congressional Democrats is to get a bill signed into law by by March 14, when the enhanced unemployment insurance payments are scheduled to end.