House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) on Thursday said she expects the next COVID-19 stimulus package to be signed into law before federal unemployment benefits programs expire. In a news conference, Pelosi told reporters the $1.9 trillion bill might be approved in her chamber “by the end of February so we can send it to the president’s desk before unemployment benefits expire” on March 14. Elaborating further, Pelosi announced that the federal $15 per hour minimum wage increase will be included in the forthcoming stimulus bill. “Yes it will,” Pelosi said. “And we’re very proud of that.” House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) told reporters over the weekend that the thresholds for the next round of payments might be adjusted. “I think that’s what most people have raised the issue on, both in the Senate and in the House. I, frankly, think that that is correct,” Hoyer said, according to The Hill. …