LIVE: Schumer and Senate Democrats Holds News Conference in Washington, D.C.

(Feb. 23) Watch live as Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and leadership colleagues Sen. Dick Durbin and Sen. Debbie Stabenow speak to reporters at the U.S. Capitol following their weekly caucus luncheon on Tuesday, February 23, 2021.

Democrats begin the final push for President Joe Biden’s $1.9 trillion stimulus bill this week, dropping any pretense of bipartisanship to quickly pass the package before an earlier round of benefits runs out.

This will be the first real test for Democrats’ full control of government since former President Donald Trump’s impeachment trial, with implications for the rest of Biden’s agenda and the pandemic-battered economy. The House plans to vote as soon as Friday on Democrats’ stimulus package, setting up a Senate vote as soon as next week.

Resolving the final hurdles, especially disagreement among Senate Democrats about a provision phasing in a $15-per-hour federal minimum wage, would clear the way for Biden to give his first address to a joint session of Congress in March outlining his next policy goals, including a multitrillion-dollar infrastructure bill.

“The Senate is on track to send a robust $1.9 trillion package to the president’s desk before the March 14 expiration of unemployment insurance benefits” from the last round of stimulus, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said in a Friday letter to colleagues. “We will meet this deadline.”

In public, the focus will be on the House this week with a Budget Committee vote Monday and a floor vote on the bill as soon as Friday. The content of the 591-page bill is mostly locked in -- the Budget Committee isn’t even allowed to make substantive changes when it meets at 1 p.m. -- and there’s no sign of a rebellion by the few remaining Democratic deficit hawks imperiling the bill on the floor.

The real action will be behind closed doors in the Senate, where Democratic leaders are hammering out the changes needed to get all 50 Senate Democrats and independents on board.

Bloomberg Quicktake brings you live global news and original shows spanning business, technology, politics and culture. Make sense of the stories changing your business and your world.

Connect with us on…

[hellanwait]

The perfect example of why we need TERM LIMITS, Chucky Schumer

[matthewhanna]

Just think, if most of the stimulus money wasn't going overseas, each adult in USA would be getting close to $10k each.

[connielocke]

Take down the wall!!! The wall around the white house. We don't need the wall .

[Zho_Nomics]

Pass the bill now don’t wait for March because then the people gotta wait for weeks and months after that I still didn’t get my Unemployment since December 27.. Pennsylvania still got me waiting.

[diannacotwright]

What the heck! Why is the bill still blowing in the wind? Don’t worry, cause I “UNDERSTAND“ the procedure of how a bill is passed. The bill should have already been voted on, signed, sealed and delivered by now. Lawmakers, please stop procrastinating and get the bill passed. Enough already. Thank you.

[lostinpa-dadenduro]

When will Biden give a live state of the union address?

[jettabusyjackson]

If they wanted to send Americans money they would of made it happen when the President Trump told them to instead of the $600 they took months to agree upon

[catherinedusoulier]

So how much is going to other countries how much is going to bail out Democratic states and pay offs

[patriciaspadea]

1400 from Trump Where's 2000 from Biden

[matthewclark]

9% helps Americans 81% special interest sad chuckles got a bridge for NY state and Nancy’s got a train for her district nice Democrats helping themselves out

[trumpets]

He better be in Gitmo! All traitors need to go!

[garlanddavidson]

Yeah but we still got Depend on Oil through foreign countries and are Groceries prices are about to go up ⬆️ $ but you’re still not talking about that?

[JoJo-vvrs]

Why would the first thing on your list of things to do when you sneak into office 1. Close down pipeline workers, quicker immigration for people to come to the country when you can’t deal with the citizens that are in front of your face. I really hope people wake up THE DEMS NEED YOUR VOTE! You are a vote to them! That’s it!

[dadauto]

Get us a retro hazard pay bill for all people that worked the past year. It will give 35-50k checks that will provide real help to many people.

[richdillon]

All the crooks in one place how cute DOUCHES

[stevenkwiatkoske]

Why the hell isn't Schumer in prison for treason?

[AB-ewvy]

Ty for bringing back semiconductor/waferfab Stateside. Was a huge mistake to export that industry, security-wise.

[jenniferkline]

Why does he get annoyed over EVERY QUESTION???

[daughterofgod]

Come to Jesus Christ.  He's the way, the truth,   and the life.  No one comes to the Father but by him. I worship an awesome God that humbled himself, became a man, and died at the hands of his very creation of out love. I pray you will too. God bless and praise God!

[Zho_Nomics]

Who cares about the Republicans? Stop worrying about them. And why are you talking about things we don’t care about right now.. Pass the covid bill period