While the House and Senate have approved a budget resolution that includes President Joe Biden’s $1.9 trillion pandemic relief package, independent U.S. Sen. Angus King of Maine said it will take weeks for Congress to finalize the legislation for the president’s signature.
King said while the budget reconciliation process Democrats are using will allow final passage of the measure with a simple majority in the House and Senate, a lot of work needs to be done to finalize language.
“The amendments that we passed were more advisory than actual changes in the proposed law,” he said. “That will come in the next step.”
King said he does not expect any major changes to the package as the process plays out over the next few weeks.
“Now there will be some negotiations, there will be lots of paperwork back and forth, but the target date is the end of the month,” he said.
As for the $1,400 stimulus payments for individuals, King said they are unlikely to be distributed before April.
This article appears through a media partnership with Maine Public.