Politico | Donald Trump signs US$2 trillion coronavirus package after last-minute drama in House
- Passage of bill was earlier threatened by Republican congressman Thomas Massie
- Relief package will provide immediate aid to Americans, small businesses and major industries facing economic collapse amid pandemic
This story is published in a content partnership with POLITICO. It was originally reported by Heather Caygle and Sarah Ferris on politico.com on March 27, 2020.
The House passed a sweeping US$2 trillion coronavirus relief package on Friday that will provide immediate assistance to many Americans, small businesses and major industries on the brink of economic collapse amid the pandemic.
But the House vote was not without some last-minute drama, as members from across the country scrambled to return to Washington to block congressman Thomas Massie from delaying passage of the bill.
President Donald Trump signed the legislation — the largest rescue package in U.S. history — later Friday.
The 11th-hour drama in the House came after days of frenzied negotiations between Senate leaders to secure a deal and an intense behind-the-scenes lobbying effort by House leaders to ensure none of their members tried to delay the bill.
“People will die today as a result of this virus,” House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer said in closing remarks just before the vote. “And we have come together as Democrats and Republicans from every region of this country to respond in a way that is sufficient to this challenge.”