Schumer: Senate Could Take Up COVID Bill 'As Early As Tomorrow'

Senate majority leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) says that the Senate could take up the COVID-19 relief package, passed by the House at the weekend, 'as early as tomorrow'.

• The package, officially known as the American Rescue Plan, is set to progress through the Senate as part of a reconciliation process, which will avoid a filibuster from Republicans.
• However, there remains major uncertainty surrounding the provision for a USD15/hour federal minimum wage. The Senate parliamentarian has ruled that the provision should not be included as part of the reconciliation process and jettisoned from the USD1.9trn package. Some progressive Democrats in Congress have called for the parliamentarian to be replaced in order to get the minimum wage hike through, but this would prove a controversial prospect.