Democrats Ready to Begin Work on Passing Rescue Plan

The U.S. Congress is expected to start procedures to pass the huge stimulus package proposed by President Joe Biden next week, Reuters reported citing leaders in the Democratic party.

Both Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi pointed to work on passing what the administration is calling a rescue plan for the American economy with $1.9 trillion in spending.

“The Senate, as early as next week, will begin the process of considering a very strong COVID relief bill,” Schumer said.

“We need recovery and rescue quickly. Everywhere you look alarm bells are ringing.”

Meanwhile, Pelosi said that “by the end of (next) week, we’ll be finished with the budget resolution, which will be about reconciliation, if needed.”

Former Presidential candidate, Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont, who is leading the Senate budget committee, called upon the chamber to go through with a reconciliation process, which would allow the simple majority to pass the relief bill without the need for support from Democrats.

“If Democrats are to address the enormous crises facing working people, and keep faith with the campaign promises we made, we must go forward aggressively with the Senate reconciliation process. There is no alternative. Now is the time for bold action.”

Schumer said on Tuesday that Democrats are ready to begin working to pass the new president rescue plan as early as next week without cooperation with the Republicans.

The plan is being challenging by some Democrats as it will increase government debt, as the U.S. government has already spent $4 billion in stimulus and relief packages.

A budget resolution will be the first step in the reconciliation option, which will allow the simple majority of the Senate to approve the bill.

Through this option, the Democrats will avoid the need for 60 voted, which they currently do not have in the Senate with the Chamber being split 50-50 between the two major parties.

The Democrats enjoy the majority, with the Vice President being the tiebreaker.

However, some Democratic senators are reportedly considering other alternatives to the $1.9 trillion Biden plan.

Biden recently laid out a new government stimulus plan worth $1.9 trillion to help the economy face the impact of the Coronavirus pandemic, under the title “The American Rescue Plan.”

The plan will grant a monthly payment of $2,000 per household by adding another $1,400 to the recently approved $600 payment.

It is worth noting that the $2,000 paycheck was supposedly supported by the former president, however, the majority of Republicans opposed raising stimulus spending.

The new plan will increase unemployment benefits to $400 per week until the end of September.

The plan also raises the federal minimum wage to $15 per hour, which has been called for by many Democrats for a long time, especially during the recent Presidential race.

The plan also allocates $350 billion in aid for state and local governments, as well as $170 billion to support educational institutions.

The pandemic also dominates a large portion of the rescue plan, with $50 billion directed to testing and $20 billion allocated to establishing a vaccination program.

Moreover, the rescue plan prolongs the eviction and foreclosure moratoriums until the end of September.