Staying Fit
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With families and businesses nationwide desperate for new economic stimulus legislation, the U.S. House of Representatives Thursday passed a $2.2 trillion coronavirus relief package. Though the bill has little hope of passing in the Senate and becoming law, the proposal signals where lawmakers stand as negotiations continue, such as a second round of stimulus checks and expanded unemployment benefits.
Congress acted swiftly in the spring to pass four bipartisan economic relief bills totaling more than $3 trillion, but negotiations on new stimulus legislation hit a standstill during the summer. The House vote this week comes two months after many of the benefits of the CARES Act stimulus deal — such as extra unemployment benefits and a limited moratorium on evictions — expired at the end of July.
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The legislation passed by a 214-207 vote, with 18 Democrats joining all House Republicans in voting no. The measure is a slimmed-down version of the $3.4 trillion Heroes Act the House passed in May, which the Senate never considered. Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin were negotiating a bipartisan deal on new stimulus legislation all week but couldn't reach an agreement before the House vote. Talks continued Friday, and more are expected.
Among other provisions, the House-passed bill would provide:
A second round of stimulus checks. Eligible individuals would receive a second stimulus check of up to $1,200 per person (or $2,400 for couples who jointly filed federal taxes). Families also would receive $500 for each eligible dependent, including adult dependents.
Enhanced unemployment benefits. People who have lost their jobs would once again be eligible to receive an extra $600 per week in unemployment benefits through Jan. 31. The proposal Mnuchin offered during negotiations would provide an additional $400 per week rather than $600.
Coronavirus testing and treatment. The measure would include $75 billion for coronavirus testing, contact tracing and isolation measures. It also would provide an additional $28 billion to help pay for procuring and distributing a vaccine, once one is approved. Those funds could also be used for vaccine education.
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