House Democrats pass sweeping $1.9T COVID-19 relief bill with minimum wage hike

House Democrats passed their sweeping $1.9 trillion coronavirus aid package in a party-line vote early Saturday morning, advancing President Biden’s top legislative priority.

Lawmakers passed the bill 219-212, with two Democrats — Reps. Jared Golden (Maine) and Kurt Schrader (Ore.) — joining all Republicans in voting against it. Democrats could afford up to four defections with their narrow House majority.

The bill's passage comes days after the COVID-19 death toll in the U.S. surpassed 500,000 people. More contagious virus variants remain a threat to containing the pandemic.