Unemployment benefits for millions of Americans expired Sunday before President Trump signed the COVID-19 economic relief package and accompanied the $ 1.4 trillion spending bill to fund the government. Congress passed the bill on Dec. 21 after weeks of negotiations that included members of the Trump administration itself.
Trump signed the bill Sunday night, about 18 hours after unemployment benefits expired.
It is estimated that there are 12 million Americans lost unemployment benefits after two key government programs authorized by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act, or CARES Act, expired on Dec. 26, according to a study published last week by The Century Foundation, a progressive think tank.
Trump had refused to sign the bill on $ 600 stimulus checks, instead of insisting on $ 2,000 checks. Over the weekend, he also instructed Congress to remove the “pig” from the bill, though he did not specify what it means for pork, which usually refers to attachments added to bills that are causes. of pets or premises of members of Congress.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said On Thursday, the House would vote Monday on an independent bill that would provide $ 2,000 checks to Americans. He said Republicans blocked the bill. Trump said in a statement Sunday night that the Senate would begin work on this bill, though it is unclear what future it would have, as Senate Republicans have previously blocked those payments.
The huge $ 900 million COVID-19 economic bill includes not only $ 600 stimulus controls but also increases unemployment benefits, $ 28,445 million in small business loans, $ 25 billion dollars in direct rent assistance, $ 82 billion in education funding, $ 45 billion in public transportation systems, and $ 13 billion to increase food stamps and child nutrition benefits.
The bill also extends the moratorium on eviction one more month. If not approved, millions of tenants left behind in their rent could suffer evictions.
In addition to the economic relief, the agreement also allocates more than $ 30 billion to support the acquisition and distribution of the coronavirus vaccine and $ 27 billion for testing and state health care programs.
On Saturday, President-elect Joe Biden instat Mr. Trump will sign the bill.
“It’s the day after Christmas and millions of families don’t know if they will be able to reach two because of President Donald Trump’s refusal to sign a congressional-approved economic aid bill with an overwhelming, bipartisan majority,” he said Mr. Biden said in a statement Saturday.
Mr. Trump is in Florida at his Mar-a-Lago resort to spend the holidays.