Pelosi: We will pass COVID stimulus spending using reconciliation 'if needed'

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said Thursday the Democratic-led Congress will pass a large-scale coronavirus stimulus bill using budget reconciliation "if needed."

Reconciliation bills that impact the federal budget require only a simple majority to pass. According to congressional rules, reconciliation starts with a "congressional budget resolution" and the "budget cannot be stalled in the Senate by filibuster, and it does not need the President's signature."

President Joe Biden has proposed a $1.9 trillion COVID-19 stimulus plan.

"We will pass a reconciliation bill — if we need it. We would hope that we would have bipartisan cooperation to meet the needs of the American people," Pelosi said during a news conference. "I hope we don't need it [reconciliation] but if needed we will have it."