The Senate passed a $1.9 trillion coronavirus relief package on Saturday as Democrats rush to send out a fresh round of aid to the American people.

The chamber approved the plan in a 50-49 party line vote as Republicans questioned the need for another broad spending package. 

The Democratic-held House aims to pass the bill in the coming days and send it to President Joe Biden for his signature before a March 14 deadline to renew unemployment aid programs. 

The legislation includes direct payments of up to $1,400 to most Americans, a $300 weekly boost to jobless benefits into September and an expansion of the child tax credit for one year. It also puts new funding into Covid-19 vaccine distribution and testing, rental assistance for struggling households and K-12 schools for reopening costs.

The likelihood of the bill passing in the house is extremely high as the Democrats hold the majority by 5 seats and now clearly have the support. President Biden said he would sign the bill should it end up on his desk, therefore concluding that the bill is a 99% done deal.

Although Republicans are furious over the fact that the Covid-19 relief Bill is stuffed with far too much unwanted fat, the American people are eager to get their hands on the much needed $1,400 check… even if means the taxpayers will end up paying through the nose for it.

Sen. Bernie Sanders’ effort to insert a $15 minimum wage provision into the massive coronavirus spending bill officially failed late Friday and set a record for the longest vote in modern Senate history in the meantime. This has been a major sticking point for Republicans including Mitch McConnell who has voiced his concerns over the minimum wage hike several times. 

Sanders faced bipartisan opposition with just 42 Democrats siding with him and 58 senators voting “no” when the vote was finally announced shortly before 11 p.m. on Friday.