The U.S. House of Representatives has passed a $787 billion economic stimulus bill intended to jolt the country's faltering economy.
The House on Friday approved the plan 246-183, with no minority Republican support. The package includes tax cuts and domestic spending projects. The Senate is now voting on the bill and is expected to approve the measure to send it to President Barack Obama for his signature.
The Senate vote is expected to remain open for hours to accommodate a senator who is returning to Washington for the vote.Most Republicans complain the bill includes too much government spending, and not enough tax cuts. Others say that they did not have enough time to read the 1,000-page bill.
Democrats say the measure delivers the swift and bold action that Mr. Obama says is needed to reenergize the economy and create jobs.
The president told a group of business leaders the plan will save or create more than 3.5 million jobs and "ignite spending by businesses and consumers."The final bill is a compromise between versions passed separately by the House of Representatives and the Senate.
Domestic spending in the bill will put hundreds of billions of dollars toward social programs, infrastructure projects and other initiatives.