Congressman: Relief bill ‘about survival’
A wintry view of River Road in Woodstock, Vermont. (Gareth Henderson Photo)
After months of delays, the U.S. Congress rapidly approved a new COVID-19 relief package on Monday night. As of Tuesday evening, it was unclear if President Donald Trump would sign it into law; multiple news outlets reported the president wanted to see larger direct stimulus payments in the bill, among other changes.
The $900 billion relief package was combined into one bill with a $1.4 trillion measure to fund the government through Sept. 30. A bipartisan group of House and Senate lawmakers played a central role in the negotiations, leading to the new relief bill aiming to help businesses and families reeling from the financial impact of the pandemic.
At a Tuesday press conference with Vermont Gov. Phil Scott, U.S. Rep. Peter Welch, the state’s lone congressman, noted the federal CARES Act that passed in March was a “lifeline” for businesses and families, and people need that same kind of assistance now.
“The obligation of the federal government is to be that fiscal backstop, to help our individual citizens, our families, our small businesses and our state to get from here to there,” Welch said.
For many small businesses, he noted, this is not about stimulus, it’s about survival.
“I think, ultimately, that’s what brought Congress together over what had been a long and prolonged negotiation,” Welch said.
From the relief measure, Americans will see a new round of direct stimulus payments, supplying $600 per individual and $600 per child. The payments are for individuals with incomes of up to $75,000 and couples filing jointly who make up to $150,000. The measure also funds $300 per week of a federal unemployment supplement for 10 weeks. It had been set to expire Dec. 26.
The bill nationwide also adds $284 billion in additional payroll protection for businesses, $8 billion for vaccine distribution, and a month-long extension of the federal eviction moratorium. On the education front, K-12 public schools get $54 billion in the legislation, and nonprofit public colleges and universities will see $22 billion.
Also on Tuesday, Welch acknowledged the new relief package did not include aid to state and municipal governments — something Scott and other governors have been pushing for. That aid was a sticking point when negotiations between Democratic leaders and the White House stalled over the summer. Welch said he and the incoming Biden administration are committed to getting further aid to state and local governments, which he said are better positioned than Washington to allocate relief funds in their communities.
“This will be something that we’ll continue to pursue,” Welch said.
Americans may begin to see their direct stimulus payments as soon as early next week, according to NBC News, in a report noting the government is better prepared to get the money out quickly this time. President-elect Joe Biden has pledged to propose a second COVID-19 relief bill after he takes office next month.
— Gareth Henderson
