The House passed a $900 billion coronavirus stimulus package after a long day of deliberations and negotiations. The bill is aimed at helping millions of families and small businesses struggling amid the COVID-19 pandemic in the US.

The bill has now been sent to the Senate, where it is likely to be taken up in the next couple of hours after which it will be sent to President Donald Trump, who needs to sign it for the bill to take effect.

As the COVID-19 death count rises amid a massive resurgence of the virus that again threatens the economy, Republican and Democratic legislators finally agreed upon a plan late Monday after months of wrangling and bitter debate over what to include.

The deal will spare millions of jobless workers who were days away from seeing their unemployment benefits expire, and provide a new round of cash payouts. The package will benefit small businesses and will also provide rental assistance and help to families, who are facing eviction. 

Democratic House Speaker Nancy Pelosi on Monday said, “It’s a good bipartisan deal. We will do some good with this legislation.”

Recent data shows retail sales slowed heading into the usually-strong holiday shopping season, while new applications for unemployment benefits have risen for four of the past five weeks after months of declines.

But “as President-elect Joe Biden has said, it’s a first step, and we will need to do more. More to get virus assistance to crush the virus. More money to buy vaccines,” she said on the House floor.

The bill is passed by the House the same day the US crossed 18 million mark of coronavirus cases, with deaths from COVID-19 topping 319,000.