EE. UU. Donald Trump signs financial aid plan after blocking it for several days – US and Canada – International

Pressed by legislators from all walks of life and almost a week behind, President Donald Trump finally ratified this Sunday the new aid plan for the American economy, Announced the White House, extending the benefits to millions of citizens battling the pandemic and crisis.

(In context: Trump’s resistance to relief plan leaves millions without aid)

The package, which “provides an emergency response to coronavirus and relief,” with a $ 900 billion endowment, is part of broader legislation that, with Trump’s signature, will prevent the closure of government or close as of this Tuesday.

“I sign this bill to restore unemployment benefits, curb evictions, provide rental assistance, add funds to the corporate loan program, get our airline employees back to work, add substantially more money for vaccine distribution, and more“, The president stated in a statement issued from his residence in Mar-a-Llac, Florida, where he is spending the Christmas holidays.

The change came after a day marked by calls from all political camps to avert a social and economic disaster, especially for the most vulnerable population.

Two federal programs that included benefits for the unemployed, approved in March as part of the initial crisis relief plan caused by the covid-19 pandemic, expired at midnight this Saturday, leaving out 12 million Americans, according to the estimate of the progressive think tank The Century Foundation.

(Read here: US will require negative test for travelers from the UK)

The stimulus package, approved by Congress on December 21, should extend these grants, as well as others that have expired in the coming days.

For days, however, Trump opposed signing it, calling it even a “shame” and taking both Republicans and Democrats by surprise with his criticisms, which emerged after months of complex negotiations.

Influential Republican Sen. Mitt Romney said he felt “relieved” by the signing. “Aid is now on its way to workers, families and small businesses across the country who desperately need it,” he wrote on Twitter.

Earlier, Romney had urged the president to “immediately sign or veto the aid package on covid-19 so Congress can act before it’s too late.”

(Read also: A diverse cabinet, Biden’s commitment to the United States)

crucial relief

In his statement on Sunday, Trump continued to push for checks for taxpayers with the most financial hardship to increase to more than triple the $ 600 initially stipulated. too re-criticize that the plan includes too much spending for programs that have nothing to do with the pandemic.

He did not say, however, why he waited until the text had already been approved to make his views public.

The new stimulus package extends federal aid to the unemployed until mid-March and provides secured loans and billions of dollars in aid to small businesses, restaurants, hotels, airlines and other airlines.

Moratoriums on evictions also extend to people who cannot pay rent, Suspends foreclosures and provides funding for the distribution of covid-19 vaccines.

(Also: Why did Trump veto the U.S. Defense Budget Law?)

This aid is essential for the world’s largest economy, Strongly hit by restrictions adopted to combat the spread of coronavirus.

“I applaud the president’s decision to bring billions of dollars of crucial relief for covid-19 out the door into the hands of American families,” tweeted Republican Senate leader Mitch McConnell.

The Democratic Speaker of the House of Representatives, Nancy Pelosi, described the bill as “an advance on what is needed to crush the virus“Putting money in the pockets of Americans and honoring our heroes.”

AFP

we recommend it

– The Latin force is imposed in the government of Joe Biden in EE. UU.

– Trump attacks McConnell to recognize Biden’s presidential victory

– Denying defeat and accusing fraud is a lucrative business of Donald Trump