(CNN) -
President Joe Biden signed into law his comprehensive $ 1.9 trillion COVID-19 economic aid package Thursday afternoon, the White House said.
He was originally expected to sign it on Friday.
On Wednesday, Congress approved the aid package, which has been Biden's first and most urgent legislative priority since he took office in January.
Secretary General of the Presidency Ron Klain said the bill reached the White House on Wednesday night, "so @POTUS will sign it today, we want to move forward as quickly as possible."
Klain added: "We will hold our signing celebration on Friday, as planned, with the leaders of Congress!"
“Because Congress entered the bill faster than we anticipated, the President will sign the American Rescue Plan in one hour today.
@VP will join him in the oval.
And tomorrow they will have a signing event here @WhiteHouse, "said White.
House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said in a tweet.
President Biden said the COVID-19 relief package he signed moments ago was crucial to "rebuilding the backbone of this country."
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“In the weeks that this bill has been discussed and debated, it is clear that an overwhelming percentage of the American people, Democrats, independents, our Republican friends, have made it clear that they strongly support the American bailout plan.
Yesterday, with the final approval of the plan in the House of Representatives, their voices were heard, and all that we have in this bill was reflected upon, ”Biden said from the Oval Office.
Biden added: “And I think - and I think most people do too - this landmark legislation is about rebuilding the backbone of this country and giving the people of this nation, working people, middle class people, people. who built the country a fighting opportunity.
That is the essence.