Washington President Biden signed the $ 1.9 trillion US Rescue Plan Act into law on Thursday, finalizing an early policy victory that will send much-needed aid to millions of Americans who are still struggling with the Covid-19 pandemic
“This historic legislation is about rebuilding the backbone of this country and giving a chance to people in this country, working people, middle class people, people who built the country,” said Mr Biden before he bill signed a day earlier than expected.
The bill was narrowly approved by the House on Wednesday with a vote of 220 to 211, with a Democrat joining all Republicans to vote against. It approved the Senate on Saturday by 50 to 49 votes, including along party lines.
Mr. Biden signed the bill hours before delivering his first primetime national address to mark the one-year anniversary of the COVID-19 pandemic, which has since claimed more than 529,000 American lives. The White House said President and Vice President Kamala Harris will travel to Atlanta next Friday as part of what the White House calls the “Help Is Here” tour to promote the new emergency relief bill in cities across the country.
New CBS News Poll shows that the bill is very popular with the public, with three out of four Americans approving it. Two-thirds of Americans also say Mr. Biden is doing a good job dealing with the pandemic.
The American Rescue Plan provides for direct payments of $ 1,400 to individuals up to $ 75,000 per year, $ 350 billion in aid to state and local governments, and $ 14 billion in vaccine distribution. The bill also provides $ 130 billion to elementary, middle, and high schools to aid in a safe reopening.
White House press secretary Jen Psaki said the first wave of direct deposit checks would hit Americans’ bank accounts this weekend.
It includes an additional $ 300 billion in weekly unemployment benefits through September and an expanded tax credit of up to $ 3,600 per child, initially divided into monthly installments. According to an analysis by the Center for Budget and Policy Priorities, the tax credit for children could lift 4 million children out of poverty.
More than $ 50 billion will be distributed to small businesses, including $ 7 billion for the Paycheck Protection Program. The bill also provides $ 25 billion in emergency relief for small and medium-sized restaurants, which suffered significantly during the pandemic.
The measure increases the right to grants to purchase health insurance for people of all incomes under the Affordable Care Act (ACA), a provision that was particularly controversial for Republicans who oppose the bill. It also encourages states to expand Medicaid under the ACA by making the federal government pay for new recipients. Millions of people could save hundreds of dollars in health care costs once the law goes into effect.