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House votes to override Trump's veto of defense bill; votes to increase stimulus checks

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(WASHINGTON, D.C.) — In a major rebuke to the outgoing president, the House on Monday overwhelmingly voted to override President Donald Trump’s veto of the must-pass sweeping defense policy bill known as the National Defense Authorization Act.

The final vote was 322-87, receiving the two-thirds majority it required. 109 Republicans voted to override the president. 20 Democrats voted to sustain the president’s veto.

The Senate is expected to hold its own veto override vote later this week.  If the Senate also overrides the president’s veto, it will be the first time Congress has successfully rejected a presidential veto during Trump’s presidency.

The House also voted Monday to increase COVID-19 relief checks to $2,000, meeting President Trump’s demand for bigger payments and sending the bill to the GOP-controlled Senate, where the outcome is uncertain.

Senate minority leader Chuck Schumer said in a statement, “Following the strong bipartisan vote in the House, tomorrow I will move to pass the legislation in the Senate to quickly deliver Americans with $2,000 emergency checks.”

“Every Senate Democrat is for this much-needed increase in emergency financial relief, which can be approved tomorrow if no Republican blocks it,” Schumer added.  “There is no good reason for Senate Republicans to stand in the way.  There’s strong support for these $2,000 emergency checks from every corner of the country. [Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell] ought to make sure Senate Republicans do not stand in the way of helping to meet the needs of American workers and families who are crying out for help.”

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