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In less than a month, millions of Americans will lose their unemployment benefits. This will put pressure on Congress and Democratic leadership to push through a $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief bill. Over the next four weeks the Democratic party will have to unite. Progressives and moderates alike will have to find common ground and put aside their philosophical differences to pass the bill.
This will be President Joe Biden’s first crucial push in Congress. The bill will not be bipartisan and the Senate Democrats will have to be united to get the 51 votes needed to pass the bill. A final draft of the bill will be written up in the next few days by the House Budget Committee. The bill could pass as early as next week.
The bill does have some challenges, like House Speaker Nancy Pelosi having only a five-vote margin on the bill at this time. Unlike the Spring of 2020, where lawmakers united and passed the largest stimulus package in US history, within just a few weeks, this bill is deemed more intense, even for some Democrats. However, some Republicans could vote for the bill, giving Speaker Pelosi more leverage to advance the bill on the House floor.
Over the last few weeks, while the House Democrats have been putting President Joe Biden’s proposal into legislative words, Senate Democratic aides have been hard at work. Aides from the Financial Committee have been engaging with the House Ways and Means panel (HELP) and the Senate’s HELP Committee has been working alongside the House Education and Labor panel. Aides are in close contact with Senate Democrats to make sure they know what is needed for the bill to work in their favor.
Nevertheless, there is not full unity with House and Senate Democrats. Democrats are expected to bring their House bill to the Senate floor where changes to the bill will more than likely be made. The bill could reach the Senate floor by March 2nd. Senate Democrats would only have two weeks to pass the bill. This would roughly be the deadline before unemployment benefits lapse.
Then there’s a few inner-party issues about the bill with Democrats. Like, should $1.9 trillion be spent on the bill or should the minimum wage be raised to $15 an hour. There’s also discussion over if the full $1400 checks should be given to individuals who make over $75,000 and couples who make over $100,000. Considering how sought-after this bill is for Americans, who are struggling financially, most Democrats are likely to vote for whatever comes to the floor.
It’s a lot to chew on and Congress has less than a month to get it done.
