US House Passes $1.9 Trillion Stimulus Package... Sent to Senate (Update)

Includes 'Minimum Wage Increase to $15' Proposal

Nancy Pelosi, Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, is holding a press conference with Democratic lawmakers at the Capitol in Washington, DC, ahead of the House floor vote on a $1.9 trillion economic stimulus package on the 26th (local time). (Washington EPA=Yonhap News)

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Heung-soon] The U.S. House of Representatives has passed a $1.9 trillion (approximately 2,140 trillion won) COVID-19 relief bill.

According to local media including the U.S. congressional news outlet The Hill, the relief bill was approved in a full House vote with 219 in favor and 212 against. Considering the current House seat distribution of 221 Democrats, 211 Republicans, and 3 vacancies, the vote largely followed party lines.

The relief bill includes plans for a $1,400 cash payment per American adult, an extension of additional unemployment benefits, expanded vaccination and testing efforts, and funding to support the normalization of schools. Additionally, the Democrats have pushed to include a bill to raise the federal minimum wage from the current $7.5 to $15, seeking to pass it together with the relief package.

The relief bill will move to the Senate, where discussions will take place over the next two weeks before a vote. However, it is expected to be difficult for the Senate to approve the minimum wage increase. Previously, Senate Secretary Elizabeth McDonough ruled that the minimum wage increase could not be included under the 'budget reconciliation' process.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.