Congress passes Biden's Covid-19 stimulus bill

President Biden is delivering remarks after his $1.9 trillion Covid relief plan was passed by the House of Representatives. The President is hosting vaccine makers now at the White House.

Biden is set to sign the bill into law on Friday afternoon.

"A vaccinated American is the only way to beat the pandemic, get the economy back on track, and for us to get back our lives and our loved ones. That's why the American Rescue Plan was so critical," Biden said.

Biden thanked House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and other lawmakers for passing the bill.

Read more about what is in the relief bill here and use our calculator to see if you qualify for a stimulus check.

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House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer just signed the $1.9 trillion Covid-19 relief bill on Capitol Hill to officially send the legislation to the White House.

In remarks, Pelosi thanked President Biden and several other lawmakers in both the House and Senate.

"President Biden's vision and his determination were so apparent to the American people and the reason why this legislation enjoys this support of 75% of the American people in a strong bipartisan way across the country," Pelosi said. "We thank him for his leadership and also for his contribution to the substance of the legislation as well as his signature when that comes."

President Biden plans to sign the bill into law on Friday afternoon at the White House.

Schumer also thanked Democrats in both chambers for working together to pass the legislation.

"What do we say to America? Help is on the way. Help is on the way. You'll receive $1,400 checks by the end of March," he said.

The Senate leader called the bill "one of the most consequential pieces of legislation we have passed in decades."

"So this is a wonderful day for America," Schumer said.  "This is one of the most consequential pieces of legislation we have passed in decades, and you know what we can show America, that we can get things done to make their lives better, and we will continue to do that through the rest of this session. Help is on the way."

Hear full remarks from Rep. Pelosi and Sen. Schumer:

Airlines are applauding the house passage of the $1.9 trillion Covid relief bill, which is expected to save 27,000 airline workers from furloughs that were slated to start in just weeks.

In January, United Airlines sent warnings of possible April 1 furloughs to 14,000 employees. A week later, American Airlines told 13,000 employees that they would be furloughed without more federal help. The bill provides a second extension of the Payroll Support Program, which airlines and unions call critical to keeping workers on the job.

President Biden is expected to sign the bill into law Friday, according to the White House.

American Airlines says once that happens, its workers will receive pay and benefits through Sept. 30, 2021. 

“Congress has saved thousands of airline jobs, preserved the livelihoods of our hard-working team members and helped position the industry to play a central role in the nation’s recovery from COVID-19,” an American Airlines statement said.

In a statement, Sara Nelson of the Association of Flight Attendants said the bill will keep aviation workers receiving paychecks and healthcare through September “so we’re in place to meet demand as vaccinations are readily available and travel returns to the skies.”

Just moments after the House passed the $1.9 trillion Covid-19 relief bill on Wednesday, White House Covid-19 senior adviser Andy Slavitt said that the legislation will help the nation through the next stages of the pandemic.

President Joe Biden plans to sign the bill into law on Friday afternoon at the White House.

"Not that Covid-19 is over, but we will now have the resources to support Americans through the next stages," Slavitt said.

When asked whether he suspects the United States will need another relief bill before the end of the pandemic, Slavitt said he couldn't "predict the future" and the pandemic has had "plenty of surprises."

The House of Representatives voted Wednesday to approve a $1.9 trillion Covid relief plan, a top legislative priority for President Biden. The President is expected to sign the bill into law later this week.

Much of the legislation mirrors the plan laid out by Biden in January. But lawmakers did make three notable changes – narrowing eligibility for the stimulus checks, trimming the federal boost to unemployment benefits and nixing an increase in the federal minimum wage to $15 an hour.

Here's what is in the bill:

Read a more detailed breakdown here.

President Biden praised the passage of the American Rescue Plan moments after it passed the House on Wednesday and vowed to sign it on Friday.

“On Friday, I look forward to signing the American Rescue Plan into law at the White House – a people’s law at the people’s house," Biden said.

The President thanked "all the members who voted for it, especially Speaker Pelosi, the finest and most capable speaker in the history of our nation."

Biden's signature will not appear on the stimulus checks slated to be sent to Americans as part of the relief package, White House press secretary Jen Psaki said Tuesday.

Physical stimulus checks sent to American households last year included a note on the bottom left with then-President Trump's name. Individuals receiving electronic stimulus payments also received a letter signed by the President.

Psaki said during Tuesday's White House press briefing that Biden didn't think the inclusion of his signature on the payments "was a priority or a necessary step. His focus was on getting them out as quickly as possible."

A third round of stimulus payments is expected to be on the way later this month.

The payments are included in the sweeping $1.9 trillion Covid relief package that was approved in the House today. The checks are worth up to $1,400 per person, including dependents.

So a couple with two children could receive up to $5,600. Unlike prior rounds, families will now receive the additional money for adult dependents over the age of 17.

The income thresholds will be based on a taxpayer's most recent return. If they've already filed a 2020 return by the time the payment is sent, the IRS will base eligibility on their 2020 adjusted gross income. If not, it will be based on the 2019 return or the information submitted through an online portal set up last year for people who don't usually file tax returns.

Use our calculator below to see what you can expect to get:

The House just voted to approve the Covid-19 relief bill, paving the way for President Biden to sign his top legislative priority into law.

House Democrats passed the legislation on a party line vote of 220-211. No Republicans voted in favor. One Democrat voted against the bill: Rep. Jared Golden of Maine.

White te House press secretary Jen Psaki said today that Biden will sign the bill on Friday afternoon at the White House.

Passage of the bill marks the first major legislative achievement of the new administration and a Congress that is now under full Democratic control, with narrow majorities in the House and Senate.

Key features of the package include:

What happens next: Psaki said, “The bill text will be rechecked, printed, and signed by the appropriate leaders in the House and Senate." The House clerks will then deliver the bill to the White House for the President's signature.

After Biden signs the bill, the turnaround time — between it being a more than 600-page bill and money in people's pockets — could be relatively quick.

People could start seeing the $1,400 stimulus payments hit their bank accounts within days of Biden signing the bill.

The payments do not all go out at once. Those whose bank information is on file with the IRS would likely get the money first, because it would be directly deposited into their accounts. Others may receive paper checks or prepaid debit cards in the ma

Watch Gloria Borger's analysis below:

White House press secretary Jen Psaki said President Biden plans to appoint someone to lead the implementation of his coronavirus relief legislation, similar to the role he played in 2009. 

“We are also looking ahead to implementation,” Psaki said during Wednesday’s news briefing, telling reporters about Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen’s recent speech on aid to state and local governments. “They are looking for ways to maximize, of course, the impact of every dollar.”

As the House takes a final vote on the package right now, Psaki said the President knows that the passage and signing of the bill is just the beginning.

“I don’t have any personnel announcements today but that will certainly be part of our path moving forward,” Psaki added.