As the pandemic continues to rage, the Biden administration is pushing for Congress to pass additional coronavirus relief to the tune of $1.9 trillion.

The bill is receiving mixed reviews on Capitol Hill among North Carolina lawmakers. While many Democrats are arguing it is time to go big, Republicans are balking at the price tag.

“We must invest in this economy. If not, we’re going to continue to see major, major unemployment,” said Rep. GK Butterfield, D-1st District.

“People still need relief. We particularly need unemployment extension,” said Rep. Deborah Ross, D-2nd District.

Republicans argue the proposal - which comes just one month after Congress approved a $900 billion aid bill - should be more targeted.

“Let’s focus on those segments of the economy that are experiencing the shutdown, that are experiencing the worst effects of COVID,” said Rep. Patrick McHenry, R-10th District, pointing to the restaurant and hospitality industries as examples.

Among other things, the Biden proposal includes $1,400 stimulus checks, a $400 per week supplement to unemployment assistance, funding for vaccine distribution, plus help for state and local governments.

It also calls for increasing the federal minimum wage to $15 per hour. For more than a decade, the federal minimum has been $7.25 per hour.

What comes next is the big question. Do Democrats go it alone, using a legislative tool called reconciliation to quickly pass the proposal with few if any Republican votes? Or, do they try to carve out a bipartisan deal that would likely be smaller than the $1.9 trillion figure?

After the 2020 election cycle, Democrats hold a slim majority in the U.S. House. In the Senate, Democrats hold a majority with Vice President Kamala Harris breaking a 50-50 split.

North Carolina Democrats who spoke with Spectrum News 1 said they support collaborating with their Republican colleagues - to a point.

“If people want to stand in the way and not get things passed and not take care of our people, then at a certain point you have to vote and do your job,” Ross said.

Butterfield signaled he would like to see a compromise reached, but did not rule out reconciliation. "We must get economic relief into the hands of the American people, we need to do it quickly," he said.

Republicans are already blasting Democrats for the suggestion they may barrel ahead.

“Their legislative strategy is one that relies on only Democrat votes, so I think that’s their focus,” McHenry said. “They may be talking bipartisanship but I don’t think they’ve shown any real interest in that.”

On Thursday, Speaker Nancy Pelosi signaled that the House would move ahead toward reconciliation if need be, sidestepping the need for Republican support.