House passes bipartisan coronavirus package, Senate takes up next

The House early Saturday overwhelmingly passed a sweeping coronavirus package that will make testing for the virus free and provide economic assistance to businesses, employees and others impacted by Americans' decision to increasingly shelter in place.  

The 363-40 vote ended a dramatic 24 hours in which President Trump declared a national emergency, the stock markets rallied by an historic 1,900 points and the Pentagon ordered its employees and families not to travel for the next two months.

Lawmakers on both sides signaled Congress was temporarily setting aides its normal partisan squabbles to help ease the panic and concern gripping American over the pandemic. Its passage was virtually assured when Trump himself endorsed the legislation. The Senate is expected to take up the bill early next week.

The deal negotiated by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin ensures all Americans can get free virus testing, helps employers guarantee their workers paid sick and family leave and provides food and medical aid to those lacking access. 

Pelosi said majority Democrats could have rammed through the legislation but engaged in horse-trading to ensure a bipartisan vote, including attempting to address conservative concerns that tax dollars in the bill not go to abortion. 

"Working together, we will once again prevail, and we will come out stronger than before," Pelosi said.

A handful of lawmakers voted against or present on the legislation, complaining they did not get enough time to even read its contents.

"I could not in good conscience vote for a 100-plus page bill that neither I nor my staff had an opportunity to read or review," Rep. Debbie Lesko, R-Ariz., tweeted after the vote. "...We all want to help Americans as we face the spread of #COVID19 but this complete rush job is not the way to do it."