Senate finally PASSES Biden's $1.9trillion COVID bill with no support from Republicans after all-night voting session where Democrats were forced to cut direct payments to $1,400

He thanked Vice President Kamala Harris and senators 'who worked so hard to reach a compromise' after cuts to unemployment benefits were agreed to secure the support of moderate Democrat Joe Manchin.  

Biden, who prides himself of his bipartisanship, tried to deflect attention from the lack of any Republican support for the bill by pointing to its overwhelming popularity among voters of all political persuasions.   

'I really want to thank the American people for making all this possible,' he said. 'How did they make it possible? Quite frankly, without the overwhelming, bipartisan support of the American people, this would not have happened.'  

Citing the country's desire to return to normality, he added: 'Our job right now is to help our country get from this stormy present to that hopeful future.' 

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said the bill is a 'tremendous step forward' in providing help to families and small businesses hurting during the coronavirus pandemic.

'It honors our heroes – our health care workers, food, sanitation and transportation workers, and teachers – who are on the frontlines on the state and local level. 

'It crushes the virus with the equitable and immediate distribution of the vaccine. And it puts our children safely back in school and puts workers back on the job. Overall, this coronavirus-centric legislation puts nearly a trillion dollars in the pockets of America's families.'

Barack Obama tweeted: 'Elections matter—and we’re seeing why. Congratulations to the Biden Administration and to the American people on a COVID relief bill that will improve the lives of families across the country.' 

And Hillary Clinton wrote: 'The American Rescue Plan is one of the most ambitious pieces of legislation in a generation. It will materially help families in dire need. It will help end this pandemic. It will cut child poverty in half. Lots more to do. But let’s celebrate this hard-fought progress.' 

Far-left Democrats are angry at the size of the package, with Ilhan Omar calling it 'very disappointing'. She added: 'We obviously are now ultimately sending money to less people than the Trump administration.' 

It came as Democratic Senator for Arizona Kyrsten Sinema was slammed by her own party for 'flippantly' copying John McCain's famous 'thumbs down' to help kill Bernie Sanders' minimum wage amendment.   

Sen. Sinema, 44, sided with Republicans and seven other senators as she voted down the Sanders amendment - but it was the way she vote her was cast that caused a social media uproar. 

Sinema, who entered the Senate in January 2019 after serving in the U.S. House and Arizona state Legislature, was shown standing on the House floor, flashing a thumbs down and curtsying as her name was called to cast her vote.

It was similar to the memorable moment when McCain signaled a thumbs down when he failed to side with other Republicans to overturn the Affordable Care Act in 2017. 

After Biden previously predicted that a $15 per hour minimum wage increased would not end up being included in his relief package, eight Senate Democrats joined Republicans on Friday in opposing Sanders' bid to include it. 

Progressive Democrats were also frustrated at a Senate agreement to reduce eligibility for $1,400 stimulus checks. 

This will see the amount gradually reduced until it reaches zero for people earning $80,000 and couples making $160,000. 

When asked if she thought this was Biden 'abandoning progressives' Omar responded by calling the vote a 'very disappointing development.'

'You know, the Senate Majority Republicans were willing to. There are going to be 17 million people who will get less money. This is not the promise that we made. 

'This is not what we are given the opportunity to be in the majority in the Senate and have the White House. 

'So ultimately, it is a failure when we compromise ourselves out of delivering on behalf of the American people and in keeping our promises.'

It came as Moderate Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin struck a deal late on Friday with Senate leaders over emergency jobless benefits, breaking a nine-hour logjam that had stalled the party's showpiece bill.  

Jobless workers will now receive $300 per week, on top of benefits offered by their state unemployment system, until September 6. 

That is $100 per week less than the unemployment benefit passed by the House. 

The bill will now be shipped back to the House - which is expected to give final congressional approval and whisk the bill to President Joe Biden for his signature.   

The legislation will provide direct payments of up to $1,400 to most Americans and money for COVID-19 vaccines and testing, aid to state and local governments, help for schools and the airline industry and subsidies for health insurance.