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Economic Policy

Biden works to unify Senate Democrats on $1.9 trillion relief bill

Schumer intends to move legislation forward this week as unemployment benefit deadline nears

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March 1, 2021 at 5:12 p.m. EST
U.S. lawmakers are working on a coronavirus relief package. (Tom Brenner/Reuters)

President Biden launched a lobbying effort targeting fellow Democrats on Monday to unify them behind his $1.9 trillion coronavirus relief bill as the Senate prepares to move forward on the massive legislation this week.

Democrats don’t have a vote to spare in the Senate, but several moderate-leaning senators have raised concerns about the structure of unemployment insurance benefits and Biden’s plan to send $350 billion to state and local governments, among other issues.