The House passed the Senate’s $2 trillion emergency relief package Friday to address the coronavirus pandemic after continued debate from both parties.
Before the bill was passed, Republican Kentucky Rep. Thomas Massie said he would try to force a quorum vote on the $2 trillion coronavirus package since he disagreed with the inclusion of many part of the legislation.
This comes as the package passed the Senate 96-0 on Wednesday night. There were a few minor hiccups earlier in the day Wednesday as Republican South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham held a press conference with a group of Republican senators to call for an immediate fix to a “life-threatening drafting error” in the coronavirus package.
Graham was joined by Republican Sens. Tim Scott of South Carolina, Ben Sasse of Nebraska and Rick Scott of Florida at the press conference to discuss the coronavirus emergency legislation. The presser was first announced in a tweet by Graham, who said they “will discuss a massive drafting error in the current version of the coronavirus relief legislation that could have devastating consequences.”
The group of senators later agreed to drop procedural issues and let the bill move on in exchange for a vote on an amendment, which failed in a 48-48 vote, before the vote for final passage on the coronavirus package.
President Donald Trump, right, arrives for a Senate Republican policy luncheon with Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, a Republican from Kentucky, at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., U.S., on Tuesday, March 26, 2019. (Photographer: Andrew Harrer/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
Also, Independent Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders threatened that he will put a hold to the Senate coronavirus package unless there are stronger sanctions on a $500 billion corporate welfare fund. (RELATED: Bernie Threatens Republicans — Says He Might ‘Put A Hold’ To Senate Coronavirus Package)
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell confirmed early Wednesday morning that a bipartisan deal for a nearly $2 trillion emergency relief package to address the coronavirus pandemic had been reached. He said the deal “will get more equipment to the heroes on the front lines” and that “this is a wartime level of investment.” McConnell also added that “this has been a long week for the Senate,” and that the Senate is “going to pass this legislation later today.” (RELATED: Senate And White House Reach Bipartisan Deal On Nearly $2 Trillion Emergency Relief Package)
The text came out late Wednesday after a bunch of changes were made throughout the day. Meanwhile, Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi delayed the passage of the Senate’s coronavirus relief package Wednesday, as the House was in session for nearly three minutes and then adjourned until Thursday.
The bill will now go to President Donald Trump’s desk so he can sign it into law.
