House Gears up for Final Vote on $1.9T Stimulus Bill, Approves Pro-Union Bill
U.S. President Joe Biden (Center R) and Vice President Kamala Harris (Center L) meet with 10 Republican senators, including Mitt Romney (R-UT), Bill Cassidy (R-LA), Susan Collins (R-ME), Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Thom Tillis (R-NC), Jerry Moran (R-KS), Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) and others, in the Oval Office at the White House February 01, 2021 in Washington, DC. The senators requested a meeting with Biden to propose a scaled-back $618 billion stimulus plan in response to the $1.9 trillion coronavirus relief package Biden is currently pushing in Congress. Doug Mills-Pool/Getty Images

The House of Representatives is now poised to take a final vote to pass the $1.9 trillion COVID-19 stimulus bill on Wednesday morning.

The stimulus bill, backed by President Joe Biden, is set for final voting on Wednesday after a two-hour debate that will start at 9 a.m.

On Tuesday, the House voted 219-210 to book the date of the final voting. All present Republicans and one Democrat voted against moving forward, the New York Post reported.

The COVID-19 relief package includes $1,400 stimulus checks, an extension of the weekly $300 unemployment benefits, and funding for vaccine distribution, testing efforts, and reopening schools.

Stimulus Bill Final Voting

According to The Hill, the House was initially expected to vote in sending the stimulus bill to Biden for his signature on Tuesday. However, lawmakers received the Senate-passed bill on Tuesday morning, slightly delaying the initial timeline.

The House Rules Committee must initially set the parameters for debate, and then the lawmakers must vote to approve the rules of debate. Once the lawmakers finish debating on the stimulus bill, they can vote on the final passage.

Also known as the American Rescue Plan Act, the bill was passed by the Senate on Saturday, following some major alterations to a previous House-passed version.

The House Democrats hoped that Biden would sign the stimulus bill on weekend or before the key jobless aid programs expire on Sunday. On Monday, Biden said he would sign the legislation "as soon" as he gets it.

CNBC reported that one of the changes in the bill was the reduction of unemployment benefits from $400 to $300. The income cap for stimulus checks was also lowered to $80,000, down from $100,000.

The $1,400 stimulus checks are still valid for adults earning up to $75,000 annually, while smaller amounts will be given to people who have an income of under $80,000. Extra $1,400 stimulus checks will also be provided for each dependent child, but the income limits apply to kids' checks, too.

Republicans argued that there was no need for more economic stimulus spending as the country ramps up its vaccination phase and gradually moves back to a state of normalcy. They have also questioned Democrats focusing on policies not related to the pandemic.

House Approves Pro-Union Bill

Meanwhile, the House of Representatives on Tuesday approved the pro-union Bill to strengthen workers' unions after decades of defeat in courts and legislative setbacks.

However, the Associated Press reported that the Republicans are not glad about the approval even though the vote clearly stated a win with 225-206 votes.

The report added that critics and supporters agreed that the House's move would bar tactics that employers can freely use to drag out organizing drives, contract negotiations, and an agreement's ratification.

Other provisions of the bill include empowerment of the National Labor Relations Board that penalizes companies who do not adhere to their orders. It also grants organizers access to who they can reach outside working hours and gives organizers control over how unionization votes are held.

WATCH: US Senate Passes $1.9 Trillion COVID Relief Bill Along Party Lines - from DW News