US President Joe Biden welcomed the approval by the House of Representatives of his plan to revive the economy, which amounts to 1.9 trillion dollars, and called on the Senate to speed up its approval.
Biden said, "If we act decisively, quickly and boldly, we will be able to defeat the virus, and we will finally succeed in moving the economy."
After hours of debate, the House of Representatives adopted the bill at night, with the support of 219 votes, all of them from the Democratic camp, compared to 212 (including two Democrats).
The text is set to be submitted to the Senate next week, where the clause increasing the minimum wage to $ 15 an hour should be removed by 2025.
Progressive and Moderate Democrats have been divided over increasing the hourly minimum wage, but with a very slim majority in the Senate, the party needs unity to pass its laws.
Biden's plan aims to support the economy and combat the Corona virus by spending billions of dollars to accelerate the pace of vaccination and publish infection tests, in addition to $ 130 billion to help schools reopen their doors despite the pandemic.
New aid checks will be sent to Americans for $ 1,400, depending on pay level, and unemployment benefits disbursed will be extended until September 30, 2021.