The U.S. Congress has approved a $787 billion economic stimulus bill, which
President Barack Obama says he will soon sign into law.
Mr. Obama praised
Congress for passing the plan, which includes tax cuts and domestic spending
projects aimed at creating jobs and spurring economic growth.
In his weekly address Saturday, the president called
the plan a "major milestone on our road to recovery."
Congress passed the
plan Friday, with lawmakers voting mostly along party lines. The Senate passed
the plan with only three minority Republicans voting in favor of the bill. It
received no Republican support in the House of Representatives.
In the
Republican's weekly address, Senator Lisa Murkowski of Alaska said her party has
been supportive of a stimulus plan, but objects to the cost of the current
measure. She said the plan will create too much debt that will ultimately be
held by other countries such as China.
Republicans had complained before
the final vote that they did not have enough time to read the entire bill, which
was more than 1,000 pages long.
Some information for this report was provided by AP and Reuters.