Second Round Relief Bill Signed

by Joshua Onyirimba

On Sunday, December 27th of 2020, senate leaders reach an agreement on a $900 billion bipartisan relief bill. Amidst the rising number of coronavirus cases across the country, this new legislation gives citizens stimulus checks, small business loans, and enhances benefits to the unemployed. This ends a long standoff led by Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell R-Ky and Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer D-NY.

According to the Washington Post, the legislation includes stimulus checks for millions of Americans of up to $600 per person. The size of that benefit would be reduced for people who earned more than $75,000 in 2019 and disappear altogether for those who earned more than $99,000. The stimulus checks would provide $600 per adult and child, meaning a family of four would receive $2,400 up to a certain income.

Zach Montague from the New York Times states that this agreement would revive enhanced federal jobless benefits of up to $300 per week for 11 weeks. Though the new benefit is only half of the amount provided by the CARES Act in the spring, it provides a lifeline for hard-hit workers until March 14. Sources: Montague, Zach. “The Second Stimulus Package: Here's What's Included.” The New York Times. The New York Times, December 22, 2020. https://www.nytimes.com/2020/12/22/us/politics/second-stimulus-whats-included.html. Jeff Stein, Mike DeBonis. “Senate Majority Leader Announces Approximately $900 Billion Deal on Emergency Relief Package.” The Washington Post. WP Company, December 21, 2020. https://www.washingtonpost.com/us-policy/2020/12/20/stimulus-congress/. Wu, Nicholas, and Ledyard King. “Lawmakers Reach 'Bipartisan Breakthrough,' Announce $900 Billion COVID-19 Relief Deal, Will Vote Monday.” USA Today. Gannett Satellite Information Network, December 21, 2020. https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2020/12/20/covid-19-relief-top-lawmakers-announce-deal-stimulus-checks-and-ppp/6540528002/.