After a lengthy debate overnight, today the Senate passed President Biden's $1.9 trillion Covid relief package on a straight party-line 50-49 vote (one of the Republican Senators was absent, so Vice President Harris was not needed to break the tie). After some negotiations with Joe Manchin, Democrats have reached a new deal on unemployment benefits, detailed below.
Next, the bill will go back to the House where the final version will be voted on, and then President Biden is expected to sign it next week. House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer expects that last vote to take place as soon as Monday. What that means is the bill could become law as soon as next week — and you could get your $1,400 check during the second half of March.
The New York Times reported that key elements of the plan include:
Eligibility for $1400 direct payments:
Next, the bill will go back to the House where the final version will be voted on, and then President Biden is expected to sign it next week. House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer expects that last vote to take place as soon as Monday. What that means is the bill could become law as soon as next week — and you could get your $1,400 check during the second half of March.
The New York Times reported that key elements of the plan include:
- Extending expanded unemployment benefits with a $300 weekly supplement through September 6th with the first $10k not taxable for households making $150k or under
- $1,400 direct payments to individuals
- $20 billion for a national vaccine program, including preparation of community vaccination centers
- Funding for 100,000 public health workers for vaccination outreach and contact tracing
- Funding to help address disproportionate impact on people of color, for community health centers, prisons, and jails
- Emergency paid leave for over 100 million Americans
- Tax credits for families to offset up to $8,000 in annual child care costs
- Aid to renters with unpaid debts to landlords
- Grants to small businesses
- Funds to accelerate vaccine deployment and to safely reopen most schools within 100 days
- $350 billion to help state and local governments bridge budget shortfalls.
- $3,000 total per child to tens of millions of American families over $250 per month to millions as part of the relief package
- The bill will also allow the Internal Revenue Service to provide $3,600 over the course of the year for children under 6
Eligibility for $1400 direct payments:
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