House Democrats Declare 'Mission Accomplished' on Stimulus Ahead of Final Vote

The House Democratic Caucus declares "mission accomplished" before the votes are in for Congress to pass a $1.9 trillion pandemic rescue plan that would provide direct payments to millions of Americans and surge funds into state and local governments.

New York Representative Hakeem Jeffries, the House Democratic Caucus Chair told reporters at the Capitol Tuesday that in partnership with Senate Democrats and the Biden administration promises to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic has been met in a transformational way.

"The American rescue plan is transformative. It will comprehensively and compassionately meet the moment as a result of the devastating COVID-19 pandemic," he said.

The measure has already passed the House. But Biden is having to make compromises to keep all Democratic senators in support of the measure, including agreeing this week to narrow eligibility for $1,400 stimulus checks.

The administration estimates that 158.5 million households will receive checks under the Senate compromise.

Final passage is expected Tuesday in the House if leaders can hold the support of progressives frustrated that the Senate narrowed unemployment benefits and stripped out an increase of the federal minimum wage to $15 an hour.

The Democratic caucus leaders also discussed the U.S.-Mexico border, where some asylum seekers were told by officials that the U.S. government may reopen their cases and they would eventually be able to enter the U.S. to wait out the asylum process.

The new opening for people previously denied came as Mexican authorities worked to close the improvised camp along the banks of the Rio Grande, across from Brownsville, Texas, that has housed thousands of asylum seekers over the more than two years it existed.

Last month, the Biden administration began processing asylum seekers who had been forced to wait out the long process from Mexico during the administration of former President Donald Trump.

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