House Majority Leader Greg Harris (D-Chicago) debates funding for the unemployment insurance trust fund on the House floor Wednesday night. [Blue Room Stream] 

The House approved a measure Wednesday night to provide $2.7 billion from the state’s American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds to its unemployment insurance trust fund despite severe blowback from Republicans. The bill also made several appropriations changes to pay down debt and fund pension accounts.

Democratic leaders said they hope to get the bill past the Senate on Thursday so Gov. JB Pritzker can meet a federal regulatory deadline by signing it into law by the end of the month.