During the wee hours of this morning Senate Democrats were busy at work on the 1.9 Trillion pandemic relief package proposed by President Joe Biden which includes provisions for a $1,400 payment to individuals, $400.00 per week federal unemployment benefit, $350 billion for state and local governments, a minimum wage increase to $15.00 per hour and more money for child care, schools and vaccine distributions. The budget resolution passed the Senate in a 50-50 party-line vote which will allow Democrats to pass coronavirus relief without Republican support. Voting was very close. In fact, Vice President Kamala Harris cast her first official vote as a Senate tie breaker at 5:30 a.m. tipping the scales for Democrats at least at this stage. Since changes were made to the resolution it will go back to the US House of Representatives where lawmakers will need to pass it for a second time.
Senate approval of the budget resolution followed a vote-a-rama that lasted from 2:30p.m. on Thursday and ended at 5:30 a.m Friday morning. By the way there were a grand total of 800 amendments that had been filed as of Thursday night.
Good to see progress being made on coronavirus relief. Keeping the entire voting process lifted up in prayer. Many are waiting on congress to get this accomplished so that they can get tangible assistance in hand.
