In an effort to provide financial relief to troubled families and increase the distribution of vaccination across the country, House Democrats approved a $ 1.9 trillion U.S. bailout plan Saturday morning.
The bill, which largely follows the economic plan President Joe Biden presented in January, includes funding for vaccine production and distribution, another round of stimulus payments for many households, a extension of federal unemployment benefits and more. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-California) called her a “transformer” during the room debate Friday night.
“The American people need to know that their government is there for them and, as President Biden has said, help is on the way,” Pelosi said.
No Republican voted on the bill. Conservatives are largely opposed to the size of the bill and the inclusion of provisions that they say are unrelated to the pandemic.
“Democrats are so ashamed of all the waste that they are not coveted in this bill that they save it in the middle of the night,” Kevin McCarthy, the House’s GOP leader, said during the debate.
The bill will now go to the Senate, where it is expected to pass, albeit with some possible changes. Here is a breakdown of some of the main provisions of the House version.
Children’s tax credit
In one of the most ambitious provisions, the bill establishes a fully repayable tax credit for 2021, which increases the amount from $ 2,000 to $ 3,000 per child ages 6 to 17 and $ 3,600 for children under 6.
These payments are beginning to be phased out for people earning more than $ 75,000 a year or married couples earning more than $ 150,000.
Because they are fully repayable, eligible households could get credit for the little income they earn each year. These homes would receive a check from the IRS.
Housing assistance
The bill includes $ 30 billion in emergency rental assistance and an additional $ 5 billion to prevent Covid-19 outbreaks among homeless populations. Another $ 10 billion is earmarked for mortgage aid. The bill does not directly extend the national eviction moratorium, which is currently scheduled to expire in late March.
The stimulus bill passed in late December also included $ 25 billion in emergency rental grants.
Minimum wage increase
One of the most controversial provisions in the drafting of the bill, an increase in the minimum wage to $ 15 per hour in 2025, was included in the House bill, but it is unlikely to reach the final bill.
The Senate MP, a non-partisan official who decides which bills meet the requirements to pass the upper house through reconciliation, determined Thursday that raising the minimum wage did not meet standard legislation so it could be passed by a simple majority . Pelosi promised that Congress would address the minimum wage soon.
“The minimum wage of $ 7.25 that exists now is in many cases an exploitation of the American worker,” Pelosi said. “And it’s a cost to taxpayers because minimum-wage workers need food and housing assistance.”
Stimulus payments
The bill provides funding for a third payment for economic impact, worth up to $ 1,400 per person per dependent.
This time, people earning an adjusted gross income (AGI) of up to $ 75,000 (and married couples earning up to $ 150,000) will receive $ 1,400 each, plus $ 1,400 for each dependent. Unlike previous stimulus payments, dependent adults meet the requirements for this round. This means that many college students, adults with disabilities, and American seniors will receive a check for the first time.
Payments are phased out, reaching $ 0 for people earning an AGI above $ 100,000 a year and couples earning more than $ 200,000 a year. Payments are based on 2019 or 2020 income, depending on when a taxpayer files their 2020 return.
Along with the $ 600 payments disbursed in January, it is intended to fulfill Biden’s promise of $ 2,000 stimulus payments. Some critics disagree that this keeps its promise, arguing that the federal government should send $ 2,000 in addition to the $ 600 check in January.
Unemployment insurance
The bill also expands key unemployment programs after the current expiration date from March 14 to August 29. It’s a month less than what Biden proposed in his original plan.
In addition to expanding benefits for concert workers and others who could not make a profit before the pandemic, it also increases enhanced federal payments from an extra $ 300 a week to $ 400.
Distribution of vaccines
The bill spends $ 20 billion to create a national vaccination program against Covid-19 and an additional $ 50 billion for virus testing. The program is intended to help establish community-based vaccination sites and eliminate vaccine shortages.
Finally, the American Rescue Plan also provides funding for schools, restaurants and bars, state and local aid, vaccine production and distribution, and paid leave, among other provisions.
Now, the Senate is likely to pass a different version of the bill. The Chamber will have to close the new version. Democrats expect Biden to sign the legislation on March 14, when many federal unemployment provisions expire.
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