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Senate debates and passes COVID relief bill
US Capitol, March 5, 2021
The
Senate on Saturday narrowly passed
President Biden's $1.9 trillion
coronavirus relief plan following a marathon overnight session in a key vote that puts new stimulus checks and expanded unemployment checks one step closer to the pockets of the American public.
Following 27 hours of debate, delays and wrangling, Democrats pushed through the legislation in a party-line vote of 50-49. The legislation now heads back to the House for final approval before hitting Biden's desk for his signature on what would be his first major legislative victory.
Democrats, who have the slimmest of majorities in the Senate, were united in passing the legislation that they say will help rescue the economy and end the coronavirus pandemic that has claimed more than 520,000 lives.
"The people are hurting, and today we respond," Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., said prior to the vote.
Republicans said the legislation is too big and bloated.
"The Senate has never spent $2 trillion in a more haphazard way or through a less rigorous process," GOP Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., said before the vote.
The vote capped a sleepless and drama-filled overnight session.
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