The House passed the on a 244-188 vote late Wednesday. None of the House's 178 Republicans voted for the bill.

Republicans had complained that U.S. President Barack Obama and congressional Democrats were pushing through the legislation without enough debate. But House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, a California Democrat, said the legislation was needed immediately to help the U.S. economy pull out of a recession.

"I say this legislation is long overdue," Pelosi said on the House floor Wednesday.

Several Republicans complained that the bill contained too much spending and not enough tax cuts. The spending will create a larger government deficit, and the U.S. government will need to borrow money to fund all the projects in the bill, said Representative Dan Burton, an Indiana Republican.

The legislation moves the U.S. government toward "socialism," Burton added. "The kids who are growing up today are going to pay for our debt," he said. "Free enterprise, less government and lower taxes is the way to solve this problem."