House Passed COVID Stimulus Bill, President Biden Expected to Sign Friday

  After Senate Republicans initially rejected the $1.9 trillion COVID-19 stimulus bill and amended it on Monday, today the U.S. House of Representatives approved the bill, which President Joe Biden is expected to sign on Friday.

    The American Rescue Plan Act will be giving $1,400 stimulus checks to Americans who earn less than $75,000 per year. The bill also extends weekly unemployment supplements of $300 through Sept. 6.

   In addition, parents' annual tax credit per child has been increased from $2,000 to $3,000 to $3,600 per child.

    Republicans say that the bill’s wastefulness could create inflation, and also that funds from the last stimulus bill have not yet been spent, the New York Post reported.

   Calling the bill “socialism,” While House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) echoed many Republicans’ complaints that the federal government should not dole out so much money to local governments.

    Democrats, on the other hand, who all supported the bill, said that the perhaps profligate bill will reduce poverty and stimulate spending to get the U.S. economy going. 

   The COVID stimulus package contains $350 billion in state and local aid and $75 billion for COVID-19 vaccination, testing and other pandemic medical supplies. The bill offers more than $120 billion for elementary schools, however, the Congressional Budget Office estimates that more than 90% will not be spent in 2021 because the funds that were approved for schools last year have not yet been spent.

(Official White House Photo by Lawrence Jackson)