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Lawmakers on Wednesday approved a massive $1.9 trillion relief bill, extending unemployment benefits through September 6, dispatching $1,400 checks for many Americans, and greenlighting $50 billion in new small-business aid.
The House passed the measure in a vote of 220 to 211, with no Republicans voting to approve. President Joe Biden is expected to sign the bill this Friday. The legislation was previously passed by the Senate, which over the weekend approved a more targeted version of a previously passed House measure. The bill approved today removes a phased-in boost to the federal hourly minimum wage to $15 from $7.25 by 2025. It also reduces the pool of Americans eligible for economic impact payments. The direct payments will drop to zero for individuals with annual incomes of $80,000 and married couples with annual incomes of $160,000.