#BREAKING: Senate PASSES $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief package

The Senate on Saturday approved a sweeping coronavirus relief bill strictly on a party-line vote after a marathon session, giving Democrats their first legislative victory since reclaiming the majority.

Democrats cheered the 50-49 vote as it was gaveled closed. Sen. Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska) missed the vote.

Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), seen as the only potential swing vote in the end, voted against the $1.9 trillion bill.

The package provides another round of stimulus checks, aid for state and local government, and more help for small businesses and schools.

The Senate was in session for more than 24 hours, including all night Friday and well into Saturday, ahead of the final vote as Democrats fended off attempts by GOP senators to make changes to the legislation, which now has to go back to the House before it can be sent to President Biden’s desk.

The hours-long debate wasn’t without a significant injection of chaos as Democrats tried to navigate their first big legislative battle with a narrow 50-50 majority that required all Democrats to stick together in order to pass the bill.

Democrats started their first amendment vote at 11:03 a.m., and held it open for nearly 12 hours as they tried to negotiate a deal on the unemployment language.

Republicans were even able to temporarily get in their amendment to lower the payments to $300 per week through mid-July, but in the end Democrats agreed to provide a $300-per-week payment until Sept. 6, lining up with a deal the party announced on Friday night.

"Our goal has been to secure the strongest possible protections for jobless Americans that could pass the Senate," Senate Finance Committee Chairman Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) said about the final deal on jobless benefits.
You can read more here: https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/541924-senate-democrats-pass-sweeping-coronavirus-bill-after-marathon-session
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