The US House of Representatives approved a pandemic relief package early Saturday. But nine of the 18 Pennsylvanians in the lower chamber of Congress opposed it.
WASHINGTON — The US House of Representatives has approved a $1.9 trillion pandemic relief bill that would give most Americans stimulus checks of $1,400, increase unemployment assistance, and provide extra funds to local governments, businesses, hospitals, and schools.
Around 2 a.m., US Representatives voted mostly along party lines to approve the American Rescue Plan Act. Two Democrats—Kurt Schrader (OR) and Jared Golden (ME)—broke ranks to vote against it.
The package now goes to the US Senate, where it will need 51 votes to pass through reconciliation.
President Joe Biden supports the package.
If approved, the package brings the total of direct Congressional support Americans have seen to $3,200—an average of $266 per month. The previous Republican majority in Congress refused to provide more relief throughout 2020.
US Rep. Brendan Boyle (D-Philadelphia) called the American Rescue Plan Act a “big and bold plan” and said it was necessary to help Americans recover from the coronavirus pandemic.
US Rep. Chrissy Houlahan (D-Chester) urged the Senate to move quickly to approve the plan.
US Rep. Susan Wild (D-Lehigh) called the package “a lifeline to those who need it most.”
The Nine Pennsylvanians in Congress Who Voted Against Relief
The nay votes were:
- Brian Fitzpatrick (R-Bucks)
- John Joyce (R-Blair)
- Fred Keller (R-Snyder)
- Mike Kelly (R-Butler)
- Dan Meuser (R-Luzerne)
- Scott Perry (R-York)
- Guy Reschenthaler (R-Allegheny)
- Lloyd Smucker (R-Lancaster)
- Glenn Thompson (R-Centre)
Republicans said the bill was “bloated,” and Thompson argued that it “fails to meet the needs of rural communities.”
The Full Pennsylvania Roll Call
- Brendan Boyle (D-Philadelphia) Yea
- Matt Cartwright (D-Lackawanna) Yea
- Madeleine Dean (D-Montgomery) Yea
- Mike Doyle (D-Allegheny) Yea
- Dwight Evans (D-Philadelphia) Yea
- Brian Fitzpatrick (R-Bucks) Nay
- Chrissy Houlahan (D-Chester) Yea
- John Joyce (R-Blair) Nay
- Fred Keller (R-Snyder) Nay
- Mike Kelly (R-Butler) Nay
- Conor Lamb (D-Allegheny) Yea
- Dan Meuser (R-Luzerne) Nay
- Scott Perry (R-York) Nay
- Guy Reschenthaler (R-Allegheny) Nay
- Mary Gay Scanlon (D-Delaware) Yea
- Lloyd Smucker (R-Lancaster) Nay
- Glenn Thompson (R-Centre) Nay
- Susan Wild (D-Lehigh) Yay
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