The Senate passed Biden's $1.9 trillion Covid-19 relief bill

The $1.9 trillion coronavirus package passed by the Senate contains a wide range of proposals to help Americans still struggling with the economic fallout of the pandemic.

The legislation differs in at least three major ways from the bill that passed the House of Representatives last week. The final Senate package will have to be approved again by the House before it can be sent to President Biden for his signature.

House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer said the House will vote Monday night on the rule laying out terms for the bill’s consideration, and the House will vote on Tuesday on the Senate-passed version of the bill.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said he has "no doubt” Biden will sign the American Rescue Plan before the March 14 deadline.

Here's how Americans could benefit from the Senate bill:

Who is out of luck? Workers being paid at or just above the federal minimum wage of $7.25 an hour will not see a boost in pay. The Senate parliamentarian ruled in late February that increasing the hourly threshold to $15 does not meet a strict set of guidelines needed to move forward in the reconciliation process, which would allow Senate Democrats to pass the relief bill with a simple majority and no Republican votes.

Former President Barack Obama congratulated President Biden on the successful passage of the Covid-19 relief bill through the Senate, calling it “a reminder of why it’s so important to vote.” 

“Elections matter — and we’re seeing why,” Obama said in a series of tweets following the Senate vote to approve the $1.9 trillion bill.

Following remarks from the State Dining room on the recently passed $1.9 trillion Covid-19 relief package, President Biden responded to the idea that progressives may be frustrated with compromises in the bill that led to its passage.

“They’re not frustrated,” Biden said Saturday. “Bernie Sanders said this is the most progressive bill he’s ever seen passed in history, since he’s been there, and the compromises were all compromises that didn’t affect the substance and the essence of what the bill is.”

In a tweet Saturday, Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders wrote, “The American Rescue Plan is the most significant piece of legislation to benefit working people in the modern history of this country.”

President Biden said the Senate passing his $1.9 trillion Covid-19 relief bill is a "giant step forward" to providing relief to Americans amid the coronavirus pandemic.

“When we took office 45 days ago, I promised the American people help was on the way. Today I can say we've taken one more giant step forward on delivering on that promise — that help is on the way,” Biden said. 

He thanked Vice President Kamala Harris and senators "who worked so hard to reach a compromise."

Biden thanked Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer in particular for his leadership.

"I've never seen anyone work as skillfully, as ably, as patiently, with determination to deliver such a consequential piece of legislation," Biden said.

"When the country needed you most, you led, Chuck, and you delivered. Neither I nor the country will ever forget that," Biden added.

Biden promised that the package will help speed up vaccine manufacturing and distribution.

Biden also pledged that many households will see stimulus checks this month — and took a shot at his predecessor Donald Trump in his remarks.

"When I was elected, I said we were going to get the government out of the business of battling on Twitter and back in the business of delivering for the American people, of making a difference in their lives, giving everyone a chance — a fighting chance — of showing the American people that their government can work for them, and passing the American Rescue Plan will do that," Biden added.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said “I have no doubt” President Joe Biden will sign the American Rescue Plan before the March 14 deadline.

He made the comments at a news conference right after the Senate passed the President's Covid-19 relief bill.

"Nobody said passing one of the largest — perhaps the most significant — bill to help the poor and working people in decades was going to be easy, particularly with 50 votes. But it is done," Schumer said.

Schumer praised his caucus, saying "I love each one of them."

The bill will now go back to the House, where a separate vote will need to be passed before Biden can sign the bill.

Next week, the Senate will focus on continuing to confirm Biden’s cabinet nominees, including Attorney General nominee Merrick Garland and Housing and Urban Development Secretary nominee Marcia Fudge, Schumer said.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi released a statement on the Senate passage of President Biden's $1.9 trillion Covid-19 relief bill, calling it "a beacon of hope."

Pelosi said the bill is a "tremendous step forward" in providing help to families and small businesses hurting during the coronavirus pandemic.

“It honors our heroes – our health care workers, food, sanitation and transportation workers, and teachers – who are on the frontlines on the state and local level. It crushes the virus with the equitable and immediate distribution of the vaccine. And it puts our children safely back in school and puts workers back on the job. Overall, this coronavirus-centric legislation puts nearly a trillion dollars in the pockets of America’s families."

 “The American Rescue Plan is a beacon of hope for America’s families and a sign that, as President Biden has promised: Help Is On The Way,” she added.

Remember: The Senate bill now heads to the House of Representatives for a separate vote before President Biden can sign it into law.

Sen. Sherrod Brown, a Democrat from Ohio, said passing the $1.9 trillion Covid-19 relief bill was "the best thing we've done in the Senate in my career." 

Brown dismissed the amendments proposed by Republicans overnight.

GOP lawmakers introduced "all the kind of hot-button issues... the buttons they always push when they don't have a good argument," he said. "And we were doing things that positively affect people's lives. They were trying to change the subject. They lost."

Brown predicted that the American people will reap the benefits of today's vote.

"Voters in the summer of 2021, voters are going to say, you know, I voted for Joe Biden, and my life got better because President Biden and Democrats in the House and Senate delivered my unemployment check, delivered help for my small business, helped to open up our schools, kept my apartment, kept me from being evicted in the middle of the pandemic. All those things we were able to do, and it was because we stuck together and listened to what the public wanted," he said.

Sen. John Thune, the Republican whip, slammed Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer’s handling of the last 24 hours, telling reporters that Schumer had not “crushed it.” 

Thune said “this last 24 hours was really chaotic, and if this was a first big test, I don’t think he probably crushed it.” 

Thune acknowledged, however, how hard it can be for a leadership when they have a narrow majority. 

“Every power dynamic is different… but in a situation in the Senate with narrow margins, every man is a king and every woman is a queen, you really have a lot of leverage and influence. And people sometimes use it differently, and as a leader it is hard to manage that because there are a lot of conflicting – at times – objectives and strategies and tactics and everything else. You do the best you can… but yesterday was pretty extraordinary. We will see what comes next, but I hope it is a more orderly process," Thune said.

Thune also said that Republicans have learned a lot as well about the immense pressure moderate Democrats, who might be willing to work with Republicans, have faced to fall in line. 

“We learned a lot too on dealing with their side and dealing with members on their side who suggested at times they might be inclined to be with us on some things,” he said.

Thune said leadership was aware that GOP Sen. Lisa Murkowski was going to vote with the party, despite the fact she had spent a lot of time trying to get some provisions included in the bill. 

“She was having discussions with them on some things that are important to her state, but I kind of always believed in the end she would end up where she did, but like I said, every person’s vote is their vote, and we don’t pressure people. But I am glad she found her way to be with the team because I think it is a very strong message that this was – as we suggested all along – a very partisan process and a product that reflects a rushed, hurried attempt to try to get $2 trillion out the door to satisfy one of the President’s campaign promises,” he added.

Minnesota Democratic Sen. Tina Smith called President Biden's $1.9 trillion stimulus bill "so important" after it passed in the Senate.

"The sense of making a real difference for working families in this country was just so palpable on the Senate floor — and the difference that this is going to make for reopening our schools safely, for lifting children out of poverty, for helping families directly recover from this Covid pandemic — is just going to be so important," Smith told CNN's Fredricka Whitfield.

Smith said she worked for about 30 hours straight. She arrived to the Senate at about 9 a.m. Friday morning since she was presiding in the morning.

Despite the long day, Smith said senators were confident that they could pass the bill.

Smith called Sen. Joe Manchin "a fighter" after his opposition on Friday to a Democratic deal boosting unemployment benefits stalled the Senate process.

"He is a fighter for West Virginia. Just as we all are in the caucus. We all fought really hard to get pieces into this package that were important to us," she said.