House lawmakers approved the Biden administration's $1.9 trillion stimulus package early Saturday morning (2/27). [The Senate could vote on the bill by the end of the week. The House will vote again on the Senate's bill the following week. [As reported by CNN, Senate consideration is also likely to begin on Wednesday, when Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (R-NY) will bring an amended bill to the floor that excludes the $15 minimum wage provision passed by the House.

Lawmakers will then spend 20 hours debating the bill, followed by a "vote-a-rama" in which any senator can offer an amendment and vote on each.

These amendments could include lowering the income cap on stimulus check 3, which is currently being completely phased out for individuals making over $100,000 and married couples making over $200,000.

Also, the weekly federal unemployment benefit match could be reduced to $300 instead of the current $400. Both proposals have attracted bipartisan interest.

Republican senators may use the vote frenzy to water down the bill and jeopardize its re-passage in the House.

Last month's budget resolution offered more than 800 amendments and considered remedies, most of which were non-binding. The amendments are "live ammunition" that could create friction between moderates and progressives in the House Democratic Caucus and force changes significant enough to further delay final passage.

Lawmakers are under pressure to get the proposal to President Biden for his signature by March 14, when the current federal unemployment benefits supplemental program expires. After the House vote over the weekend, Biden called for "swift action" in the Senate.

"There is no time to waste.

The House version of the bailout would provide a total of $1,400 in stimulus checks3 to individuals up to $75,000 and couples up to $150,000, with children and adult dependents receiving the full amount.

The bill would also increase federal unemployment benefits to $400 per week. Again, these provisions could be changed during the Senate vote. [Last weekend, the Senate Majority Leader ruled against the bill, saying it was outside the scope of the budget reconciliation process that Democrats are using to pass a stimulus package without Republican support.

An alternative proposal by Senate Democrats to penalize companies that fail to raise wages was also passed over because attempts to include it would have delayed passage of the entire bill.