Senate passes relief bill
Sens. Kyrsten Sinema and Mark Kelly of Arizona joined with their Democratic colleagues on Saturday to pass the $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief package, which includes extending federal unemployment benefits and direct payments to Americans.
Sens. Kyrsten Sinema and Mark Kelly of Arizona joined with their Democratic colleagues Saturday to pass the $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief package.
The Senate passed the American Rescue Plan on a party-line 50-49 vote just after 10 a.m. Arizona time Saturday after an overnight marathon session in which Democrats beat back dozens of amendments by Republicans to dramatically alter the legislation.
All Democrats voted for it. Every Republican voted against it, with some saying it included wasteful spending not related to the pandemic. Sen. Dan Sullivan, R-Alaska, was not present because of a death in his family.
The bill extends the federal unemployment benefit to $300 through August, some of which would not be taxed. Those earning less than $75,000 will receive direct aid of $1,400; married couples who file their taxes jointly and make up to $150,000 would both qualify for checks.
The financial aid comes about a year into the pandemic, which has cost jobs and lost wages and made it more difficult for many to pay rent and household expenses without taking on debt.
Sinema and Kelly worked with the bipartisan group of senators and President Joe Biden’s administration to strike deals on the legislation, which now goes to the House of Representatives. Both said in separate written statements the money will provide much-needed help for Arizonans.
“We provided crucial support for everyday families, employers, and schools — and budget support for struggling Arizona cities, towns, and tribal communities to retain first responders and essential services,” Sinema’s statement said. “And we extended unemployment insurance for Arizonans out of work, and direct aid for Arizona restaurants so they can keep their doors open.”
Sinema said she will work with Arizona leaders to make sure the money is distributed to those it’s intended for.
In his statement, Kelly said: “It has been my top priority to get our state the resources we need to beat this virus and help those who need it most right now. This COVID-19 relief bill is going to provide immediate support to Arizona working families and small businesses, help reopen schools safely, get vaccines into peoples’ arms more quickly, and start getting our economy back on track.”
Both senators advocated for additional funding for vaccine distribution and COVID-19 testing, tribal communities and state and local governments. This go-around, the senators supported provisions to ensure state governments do not backfill their budgets or fund unrelated projects, and instead distribute the financial aid to the communities that most need help.
The bill also includes money for schools to help students return more safely to in-person learning and billions for rural hospitals and health care providers.
The legislation includes provisions Sinema had been working for nearly a year: billions in aid for independent restaurants and an $800 million fund to help families experiencing housing insecurity and homelessness.
Tribal communities hard-hit by the pandemic will receive more than $31 billion, funding Sinema and Kelly have both advocated for. The money is intended to help tribal governments deal with increased demand for essential services, health care, education programs, and improvements to drinking water and wastewater projects in rural areas.
Navajo Nation President Jonathan Nez said in a statement issued through Kelly’s office the funding will help families who have buried loved ones because of COVID-19. Additionally, it will connect more than 700 families to the electric grid, improve broadband services and help small businesses.
The legislation provides $1.5 billion to continue funding programs for seniors — a provision Kelly has been working on to make sure nonprofits can continue meal delivery programs, vaccine outreach, and caregiver support.
The final vote came more than 24 hours after the Senate first began debating the package. Movement on the legislation was stalled for hours Friday after Sen. Joe Manchin, W.Va., a moderate Democrat, demanded concessions on unemployment benefits.
Overnight, Republicans sought to gum-up passage of the legislation forcing votes on hot-button issues, some of which were not related to the pandemic.
They repeatedly tried to send the legislation to committees to try to delay a final vote.
Republicans also forced a vote to try to strip stimulus payments from some mixed-status families, and tried to restrict “sanctuary cities” from receiving state and local funding. The efforts failed.
The amendments by GOP lawmakers came after Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., sought to overrule the Senate parliamentarian to force debate on raising the federal minimum wage to $15 an hour by 2025.
Sinema and seven other Democrats helped sink the amendment, drawing both condemnation and praise. Kelly voted for it.