The US Senate plans to start its debate on President Joe Biden’s massive economic stimulus plan “this week”, Democratic Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said on Monday.

The House of Representatives approved the $1.9 trillion package designed to jumpstart the US economy, on Saturday after the implosion caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, and which included a hike in the federal minimum wage.

“The Senate will take up the American Rescue Plan this week. I expect a hearty debate and some late nights but the American people sent us here with a job to do,”Schumer said. 

The version of the bill the Senate will debate will not include the latter section on increasing minimum wage due to congressional rules governing the budgetary process.

Despite disappointment from many in his party, the President called on Congress to quickly adopt the rest of the package.

“We have no time to waste. If we act now, decisively, quickly and boldly, we can finally get ahead of this virus,” Biden said Saturday.