Biden news: Congress passes $1.9 trillion Covid bill as president says US to share surplus vaccines
Follow updates below
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Congress has passed the $1.9 trillion (£1.37 trillion) coronavirus relief bill. Joe Biden will sign it into law on Friday afternoon. The package will provide a direct payment of $1,400 (£1,009) to most Americans.
GOP representative Marjorie Taylor Greene and Senator Lindsey Graham have decried the bill as racist towards white people. As high a figure as 75 per cent of Americans approve of the bill according to polls, including 59 per cent of Republicans.
“It’s a remarkable, historic, transformative piece of legislation which goes a very long way to crushing the virus and solving our economic crisis,” House SpeakerNancy Pelosi said on Tuesday.
Speaking after the passage of the bill, Mr Biden, announcing a further order of 100 million doses of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, said if the US had surplus vaccines they would be shared with other countries that need the extra doses.
Meanwhile, it was announced that the US and China will meet in Anchorage, Alaska on 18 March, the first such meeting between the Biden administration and the People’s Republic. Secretary of State Antony Blinken will attend with NSA Jake Sullivan.
Alleged Capitol rioter caught on hot mic
An alleged Capitol rioter was arrested after being caught on a hot mic admitting to being in Nancy Pelosi’s office and that he “may or may not have rubbed my butt on Nasty Pelosi’s desk”.
Gino Spocchia has the story.
Alleged Capitol rioter arrested after boasting on hot mic about vulgar act on Pelosi desk
‘I was in there and for the most part almost nobody did anything wrong’
Ivanka makes first public appearance since leaving White House
Ivanka Trump, former first daughter, has made her first public appearance since leaving the White House as she “put politics aside” to work on charitable projects on Tuesday
Ms Trump helped deliver food boxes in Apopka, Florida, as part of the former administration’s “Farmers to Families” food programme.
Louise Hall reports.
Ivanka Trump ‘puts politics aside’ in first public appearance since White House departure
Former senior adviser to Donald Trump reportedly helped deliver food boxes in Florida
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments