House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) indicated the House could pass President Joe Biden’s $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief measure within two weeks.
“On Monday, we will begin working on the specifics of the bills. Hopefully, in a two-week period of time we’ll send something over to the Senate,” Pelosi said after a meeting with the president.
She added, “This will be done long before the due date of the expiration of so many initiatives.”
Pelosi explained it was a “joy” to see Biden’s commitment to meeting the needs of Americans. She noted lawmakers passed a reconciliation bill as an option if Democrats do not receive Republican support for the package.
Watch her comments below:
Speaker Pelosi said that the House could have Biden's stimulus plan passed in two weeks. pic.twitter.com/fSmFJzvn9p
— Sarah Reese Jones (@PoliticusSarah) February 5, 2021
Biden signaled during a speech at the White House on Friday he is open to the idea of moving forward with passing the bill even if Republicans refuse to negotiate, as IJR reported.
“So I’m going to act, and I’m going to act fast. I’d like to be doing it with the support of Republicans. I’ve met with Republicans. There are some really fine people who want to get something done. But they’re just not willing to go as far as I think we have to go,” Biden said.
He continued, “I’ve told both Republicans and Democrats, that’s my preference — to work together, but if I have to choose between getting help right now to Americans who are hurting so badly, and getting bogged down in a lengthy negotiation, or compromising on a bill that’s up to the crisis, that’s an easy choice.”
During a meeting with House leadership in the Oval Office earlier on Friday, Biden touched on January’s jobs report and stressed the urgency of passing the measure, as IJR reported.
“We saw the jobs report. Only 6,000 private sector jobs will be created and at that rate, it’s going to take 10 years before we get to full employment. That’s not hyperbole, that’s a fact,” Biden said.
He went on, “I appreciate you all coming over because, the urgency with which you’re moving, this is about people’s lives. This is not just about numbers.”