WASHINGTON – The Senate ended days of deadlock to vote on and pass the $2.2 trillion coronavirus financial package on to the House. This bill includes direct payments to Americans of up to $1,200, as well as billions set aside to help small businesses, hospitals, schools, and large corporations like airlines. 

The bill is scheduled for a vote in the House on Friday.

Thursday, House leaders are walking their members through the details of the massive 880-page bill. The anticipation for a vote on Friday is for a voice vote and for the chamber to align with the Senate, but with some objections, under concerns for how the money is spent. 

Senate leaders said this bill is the product of fierce bipartisan negotiations. 

“Not a single Senator voted against this $2 trillion Rescue Bill,” Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-KY, said. 

The bill passed late Wednesday night 96-0. 

“It’s a historic day because it matches a historic crisis. And our people need help, they were crying out to us for help,” Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-NY, said. 

While we watch for the massive bill make its way through the House, one southern California House member said her district just received the first round of coronavirus federal financial relief. 

Representative Norma Torres said she’s just now getting the money from the first bill that passed earlier this month, which is from that $8.3 billion dollar figure. 

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The Ontario Democrat has been outspoken and said she’s glad her district is getting some help from the federal government in the wake of the deadly virus. Her district has prominent medical facilities, including one in Pomona, which helped a man who died after testing positive for the virus.

Her district is getting about $150,000 and those hospitals are among the approximately 1,300 facilities across the nation that are benefiting from the first coronavirus bill. 

“The first round of funding to help address coronavirus is on its way to our community, and this is just the tip of the iceberg,” Torres said. “This is an all-hands-on-deck moment, and the Inland Empire is ready to meet it. But we do not – and will not – have to meet it alone. I will continue fighting for federal resources to support everything from tests for all who need them to financial support as we get past this economic downturn.”

The hospitals in Torres’ district weighed in saying this money will help with continued “prevention, preparedness, and response” like on-site evaluations and other methods like telephonic medicine and telehealth. 

As for the upcoming vote in the House for the $2 trillion bill, Torres said she’s looking forward to considering the bill and that she’s focused on getting relief out to her people and the working class.