The House passed a bill Monday night to increase the coronavirus relief payments from the latest COVID-19 relief aid package from $600 to $2,000, something President Donald Trump supports.
In a 275-134 vote, the House passed the bill, which will now head to the Senate. The House needed a two-thirds of majority for it to pass.
Trump originally recommended the $2,000 payment, but then signed the $2.3 trillion Covid-19 relief and government funding package, which would give $600 dollars to Americans. Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer have both said they are in favor of a $2,000 payment.
On Christmas Eve, Pelosi said she would bring the House back to session Monday to hold the vote.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, a Democrat from California, exits the House Chamber at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., U.S., on Monday, Dec. 21, 2020. (Photographer: Oliver Contreras/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
“To vote against this bill is to deny the financial hardship that families face and to deny them the relief they need,” Pelosi said in a statement. (RELATED: ‘We Need New Leadership’ — Ocasio-Cortez Blasts Pelosi, Schumer)
“The House will pass a bill to give Americans $2,000 checks. Then I will move to pass it in the Senate. No Democrats will object. Will Senate Republicans?,” Schumer tweeted Sunday. (RELATED: Top Senate Dem Slams Pelosi Over Delays On COVID-19 Relief Deal)
The House will pass a bill to give Americans $2,000 checks. Then I will move to pass it in the Senate.
No Democrats will object.
Will Senate Republicans?
— Chuck Schumer (@SenSchumer) December 28, 2020
Trump said Sunday he wants Congress to focus on giving the American people $2,000 checks.
“As President, I have told Congress that I want far less wasteful spending and more money going to the American people in the form of $2,000 checks per adult and $600 per child,” Trump said in a statement after signing the bill on Sunday, deputy press secretary Judd Deere tweeted.
Six Senators voted against the original legislation, which passed the Senate 92-6.