Pelosi Believes House Will Vote on Biden COVID Stimulus, Send Bill to Senate in Early February

The U.S. House of Representatives plans to fast-track the next coronavirus relief package, aiming to have the proposal up for a vote in early February after Democratic leaders rearranged the schedule to make way for President Joe Biden's $1.9 trillion priority proposal.

"We'll be doing committee work all next week so that we are completely ready to go to the floor when we get back [February 1]," House Speaker Nancy Pelosi told reporters Thursday, before Biden was to formally unveil his COVID-19 relief plan from the White House.

Much of the items within the proposal, including a plan for $1,400 stimulus checks for most Americans to enhance the latest $600 per person direct payment, have already been revealed.

Pelosi's comments Thursday signaled that the House plans to quickly pass its version, setting the proposal up for a showdown in the U.S. Senate, where Democrats have control but not enough votes to pass through without some support from Republicans. It's unclear how quickly it will be able to move through negotiations in the upper chamber and gain final approval.

"President Biden has put forth a plan to crush the coronavirus," Pelosi said. "It's what the people need. It's what the country needs to crush the virus, put money into the pockets of the American people and honor our heroes," Pelosi said.

More than 405,000 people have died of COVID-19 in the United States and thousands more have lost their jobs, as the pandemic continues to rage. Biden is using some executive orders to address immediate shortages of vaccines and testing supplies but will need Congress' approval to tap into additional funding to implement his broader effort. He's already been working behind-the-scenes to try to build support among lawmakers.

"We do need Congress to step up," Jeff Zients, who is leading Biden's COVID-19 efforts, told reporters this week. "We need Congress to provide the additional funding to fully implement our national strategy."

House GOP Leader Kevin McCarthy told reporters Thursday that Republicans are ready "to make sure we get businesses back open again, kids back in school and everyone a vaccine who wants one" but he worried about divisive policies becoming priorities. He mentioned Biden's recent executive orders on immigration and climate change.

"President Biden takes over at a time when America needs to get back to work, get kids back to school and get every American vaccinated who wants one," he told reporters. "This is an immediate national priority."