By: Teddy Grant

A deeply divided congress passed a massive $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief bill on Wednesday, a victory for Democrats and President Joe Biden.  

The president is expected to sign the bill into law on Friday, according to reports.  

The House’s approved the bill on a party-line vote, 220-211, with all House GOP voting against the bill, with some stating that the bill was stuffed with liberal policies, according to the AP.  

The Senate’s version of the bill passed last week in a party-line vote of 50-49.

The American Rescue Plan will give $1,400 direct payments to Americans making up to $75,000 a year or households with $150,000 a year income, extend the $300 per week emergency unemployment benefits into the beginning of September and disperse hundreds of billions of dollars for COVID-19 vaccinations and contact tracing and provide relief for hardly impacted industries, such as education, medical, transportation and restaurants.  

The package will also provide guaranteed income for eligible parents by expanding the child tax credit from $3,000 to $3,600 per child a year up to six years old and up to $3,000 per child between the ages of 6 and 17, according to BuzzFeed News.  

In February, Biden said that the bill’s expanded tax credit would cut child poverty in half.  

“Today we have a decision to make of tremendous consequence,” House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said. “A decision that will make a difference for millions of Americans, saving lives and livelihoods.” 

House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy blasted the bill, saying that those are members “of the swamp” will like the bill. “But for the American people, it means serious problems immediately on the horizon.”  

Approximately $130 billion will go to schools, providing funding for upgraded ventilation systems and protective equipment; $50 billion for COVID testing; $40 billion for public colleges; $25 billion for restaurants and bars, which the pandemic has severely impacted; and $30 billion for emergency rental assistance, according to BuzzFeed News.  

“This legislation is one of the most transformative and important bills any of us will have the opportunity to support,” Pelosi said.