Congress leaders have eliminated a massive year-end bill that combines $ 900 billion in COVID-19 aid with a $ 1.4 trillion bus spending bill and a host of other pending tax legislation. energy, education and health care. The huge bill that has yet to be published is scheduled to be voted on Monday, and lawmakers only have a few hours to read it before casting their votes.
Highlights of the measure with global amounts of funding and specific amounts for some initiatives, but not necessarily for all; some amounts are not yet available and some aspects of the catchall bill do not involve expenses.
DIRECT ECONOMIC RELIEF ($ 286 billion)
Unemployment insurance ($ 120 billion). It revives supplementary unemployment benefits for the federal pandemic, but at $ 300 a week (through March 14) instead of the $ 600 a week that expired in July. It extends the special pandemic benefits for “concert” workers and extends the maximum period for state-paid unemployment benefits to 50 weeks.
Direct payments ($ 166 billion). It provides direct payments of $ 600 to people earning up to $ 75,000 a year and to couples who make $ 150,000 a year, with payments eliminated for higher incomes, with an additional 600 payments per dependent child.
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SMALL BUSINESS ($ 325 billion)
Payment check protection program ($ 284 billion). It revives the Payroll Protection Program, which provides forgivable loans to qualified companies. Especially affected companies receiving PPP grants would be eligible for a second round. It ensures that PPP grants are not taxed.
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VACCINES, TESTS, HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS ($ 69 billion)
It offers more than $ 30 billion for the acquisition of vaccines and treatments, distribution funds for states, and strategic stock. It adds $ 22 billion for testing, tracking and mitigation, $ 9 billion for healthcare providers, and $ 4.5 billion for mental health.
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SCHOOLS ($ 82 billion)
It delivers $ 54 billion to K-12 public schools affected by the pandemic and $ 23 billion to colleges and universities; $ 4 billion would be provided to a government emergency education aid fund; nearly $ 1 billion for Native American schools.
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RENTAL ASSISTANCE ($ 25 billion)
Provides money for a first federal rental assistance program; funds to be distributed by state and local governments to help people who have been left behind in their rent and who may be being evicted.
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FOOD / FARM AID ($ 26 billion)
It increases the benefits of the food stamp by 15% and provides funding to food banks, wheeled meals and other food aid. It provides an equal amount ($ 13 billion) in aid to farmers and ranchers.
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CHILD CARE ($ 10 billion)
It provides $ 10 billion to the Child Care Development Block grant to help families with child care costs and help providers cover higher operating costs.
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POSTAL SERVICE ($ 10 billion)
Forgive a $ 10 billion loan to the postal service provided for in the previous relief legislation.
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SURPRISE MEDICAL BILLS
It contains bipartisan legislation to protect consumers from huge surprise medical bills after receiving treatment from out-of-network providers.
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‘TAX EXTENSORS’
It expands a variety of overdue tax rebates, including lower excise taxes from craft beer manufacturers and distillers. Renewable energy sources would see tax breaks extended, as would motoring facilities and people making charitable contributions. Business meals would be 100% deductible by 2022.
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WATER PROJECTS
It includes a nearly 400-page water resources bill targeting $ 10 billion for 46 flood control, environmental protection and coastal protection projects of the Army Corps of Engineers.