The Senate on March 6 passed by a vote of 50 to 49 a Senate substitute amendment to the COVID relief legislation that made certain changes to the House-passed budget reconciliation bill (H.R. 1319, the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021). The final vote came Saturday afternoon after an all-night session in which a number of additional amendments were considered.
The House this week is expected to vote on the Senate amendment, which would clear the measure to go to the White House and be signed into law by President Biden. Democratic leaders have set a goal of completing action on a COVID-19 relief package by March 14, when the current extension of enhanced federal unemployment insurance (UI) benefits is set to expire.
