House to vote on Covid-19 relief bill that will boost stimulus checks to $2,000

The House will vote Monday on increasing the second round of federal direct payments to $2,000 as Democrats embrace President Donald Trump’s calls to put more money in Americans’ pockets.

The measure would boost the stimulus checks in the year-end coronavirus relief and government funding package to $2,000 from $600. The vote comes a day after Trump signed the more than $2 trillion pandemic aid and full-year government spending bill into law.

The Democratic-held House will first try to pass the payments in a fast-track procedure that needs two-thirds support, according to House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer’s office. If it fails, the chamber will then move to approve it through a longer process that will only require majority support. In that case, it would only need Democratic support to pass.

Last week, the president called the legislation a “disgrace.” He waited days to sign the package after he received it from Congress. Trump claimed he opposed the bill — which his Treasury secretary helped to negotiate and which included many of his White House’s budget priorities — because it included too little direct money to Americans and too much foreign aid.

When asked whether the $600 payments were still on course to go out starting this week as Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin previously said, a senior Treasury official said the department expects to make the payments on the same timeline he discussed.

Trump has pushed for $2,000 payments in recent days. In a statement explaining his decision to sign the legislation Sunday, he noted that the House and potentially the Senate could move to approve larger cash deposits. However, most Republicans in the GOP-held Senate have opposed even a $1,200 check.

Trump’s gambit caps a chaotic eight months of efforts in Washington to send another round of coronavirus relief. Americans waited months for more help after financial lifelines that aided them through the early months of the pandemic expired over the summer. Trump’s delays in signing the year-end bill cost an estimated 14 million jobless Americans a week of unemployment benefits after two key relief programs briefly expired.

The president’s signature prevented a government shutdown that would have started Tuesday. More delays also would have jeopardized a federal eviction moratorium, which the bill extends by a month through Jan. 31.

Democrats have called the relief bill a down payment and plan to push for more aid after President-elect Joe Biden takes office Jan. 20. As they had called for larger direct payments throughout aid talks, they jumped on the president’s support for $2,000 deposits.

On Monday, Biden also told reporters he backs $2,000 payments.

In a statement Sunday, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., called on Trump to put more pressure on his party to back the payments during Monday’s vote.

“Every Republican vote against this bill is a vote to deny the financial hardship that families face and to deny the American people the relief they need,” she said.

In his own statement Sunday, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., said he is “glad the American people will receive this much-needed assistance as our nation continues battling this pandemic.” However, he did not mention any plans for bringing up the $2,000 payment bill if the House passes it.

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[Same_ol_jee]

Wtf $600 is going to do? We should’ve gotten $2, 000 from the start

[tmilesffl]

Trump's criticism of that crap bill is justified.

[PreppingWithSarge]

Anyone else tired of their reindeer games? And I mean the LOT of them. Democrats, Republicans... all of them. Defund Congress

[iwillnotcomply]

They better give us this money cause it's OUR MONEY, not theirs.

[trishan]

OK everyone...Let's remember well the names of the Republicans who will not help Americans when it comes time for people to vote in the future.

[sostdm]

The next stimulus package will be a 25 dollar Wal Mart gift card

[Jthebarber]

Look at the expressions on their faces says it all.... laughing at the people's pain cause they know it's terrible.... we don't pay taxes in different countries so why they benefit off us

[tned]

Mitch needs to be voted out...its sad how he gambles with the lives of the American people.

[lindah]

I see this going over as well as a fart in church.

[RAJVILLE]

Happy new year to th few reading this, i hope you become successful in everything you dream of and accomplish more than you had imagined. My dream is to become a successful African musician 🥺

[robertwilk]

If Congress doesn't pass the $2, 000 Trump shouldn't go to Georgia.

[truAPEeth]

Senate Republicans showing everyone why they are going to lose both seats in GA. Good work Moscow Mitch.

[ramban]

THE US CONGRESS OWE US, $20, 000 = $2, 000 x 10 MONTHS= $20, 000
THEY ORDERED THE LOCKDOWN. WE DIDN'T QUIT OUR JOBS. IT IS THEIR BILL,
THEY HAVE TO PAY WHAT THEY OWE US $20, 000.00

[boomboom]

WITH RAND PAUL IN SENATE AND JIM JORDAN AND JOHNSON GOOD LUCK RAND PAUL DIDN'T EVEN WANT TO GIVE 600 THERE WILL BE ALOT OF SENATE WHO WILL VOTE NO TO 2000 BUT ONLY 13 ARE NEEDED TO VOTE YES

[joevehon]

Get the 2000 deal done and finally do something that can help the people

[robinwood]

Mitch mcconnell He doesn't care about Americans Giving 600 Oh boy

[robynryan]

I'll assume they'll end up saying "2000 we just gave 600, americans should be happy we gave that"

[lindsayjones]

No choice for President Trump. Congress is more concerned about their pay raises and foreign aid than the people.

[jeromeparker]

I pray god we will getting $2, 000 per month

[johnnieboy]

Hopefully they remove that garbage section giving loads of money overseas to other countries.