Second stimulus checks have passed the house, delivering a whopping 3 trillions dollar relief to Americans while America has began to open back up. According to reports the bill was narrowly passed. Fourteen House Democrats opposed the bill, most of them moderates representing GOP-leaning districts. One Republican, retiring Rep. Peter King of New York, voted for the measure, which passed 208 to 199.
The next process is waiting to see if the Senate will pass the round for second stimulus checks. According to reports the Senate majority seat, which are Republicans are voting No to the bill. Trump has also stated the bill would be dead on arrival. However, he stated More help will eventually come, but “it’s going to happen in a much better way.”
The Republic party over seats the Democratic party in the Senate with a 51 Republicans and 49 Democrats including 2 independents. According to reports the bill will be discussed through the Senate by the first week of June to ensure everyone has received their first round of stimulus checks already. To pass the bill all Democrats would need to approve it along with 2 Republicans.
Once, the bill is passed funds will be sent out in the same order it was sent during the first round of stimulus. Direct deposit accounts will get their rounds first, and then funds will be mailed. The process to send second stimulus checks to everyone would take around two months to complete.
The second stimulus checks would also include immigrant families. This has raised flag with some Democrats and is a full no for most Republicans. However, some Republicans are for the bill. King, the New York Republican who voted for the bill, told Fox News that his hard-hit state will “absolutely collapse” without an infusion of federal aid.
The HEROS act, also known as the second round of stimulus checks would include,
- $200 billion for a “Heroes fund” that would provide “hazard pay” to essential employees such as front-line health care workers.
- $75 billion to beef up testing and contact tracing.
- A second round of economic impact payments of $1,200 per family member, up to $6,000 per household.
- $10 billion for emergency grants to small businesses through the Economic Injury Disaster Loan program.
- COBRA subsidies to workers who have lost their health insurance because they’ve been laid off. It also creates a special enrollment period in the Affordable Care Act exchanges for the uninsured.
- Extension of weekly $600 federal unemployment payments through January.
- $175 billion to help renters and homeowners make monthly rent, mortgage and utility payments and other housing-related cost.
