so, let's get right to maryalice parks at the white house. maryalice, as you said in your report, millions are at risk of losing those federal unemployment benefits in just a few weeks. how soon could this bill hit the president's desk? and when are those checks expected to reach american families? >> reporter: yeah, whit, democrats in the senate are eager to get to work on this bill. debate could start as early as this week. they are very aware of that march 14th deadline. democrats say their goal is to make sure that unemployed americans hopefully do not see any break in benefits, but just last night, president biden admitting that even if this bill makes it to his desk soon, it could still be a few weeks before americans see those $1,400 checks. whit? >> maryalice parks, our new white house correspondent, with her first report for "world news tonight." it's great to have you and welcome. >>> we turn now to president biden, promising an announcement on monday on saudi arabia after that intelligence report on the killing of u.s.-based journa

maryalice, good morning. >> reporter: good morning, whit. yeah, democrats feeling good.ed this hurdle in the house. set to expire on march 14th. democrats want this bill on the president's desk before then. the bill would extend unemployment benefits, send most americans a $1,400 relief check. it would offer grants to small business and direct billions of dollars to the states for vaccines, testing and schools. you know, democrats left in their house bill a controversial provision, rather, that would raise the minimum wage to $15 an hour by 2025. you know, currently the federal minimum wage is only $7.25 an hour. it has not changed since 2009. but democrats in the senate told this week they cannot keep that minimum wage provision in the bill if they want to pass it as a plain budget bill. now, a budget bill requires only 50 votes, a simple majority and that is still democrats' best bet for passing this bill. president biden prides himself on being that consensus builder but he is still facing firm opposition from republicans. overnight in the house, republicans stood tog

abc's maryalice parks is at the white house with the latest. good morning to you, maryalice. >> reporter: good morning, eva. ye, democrs feeling good. they cleared this hurdle in the house, but president biden still facing steep opposition from republicans. overnight republicans voting all together against this bill. in fact, in the house two democrats voted against it as well. president biden one step closer to his first major legislative win. >> the bill is passed. >> reporter: the house overnight passing his $1.9 trillion recovery package. that bill and the vaccine rollout, his primary focus since taking office. the president telling univision -- >> we're focusing on communities that have been left behind. >> reporter: lawmakers up against an urgent deadline, unemployment benefits for millions of americans still out of work with this pandemic set to expire on march 14th. the bill would extend and expand those unemployment benefits, send most americans a one-time $1,400 stimulus check and direct billions to states for vaccines, testing and sc