An important week begins in Congress for the possible approval of the economic stimulus plan proposed by the President, Joe Biden, on which Democrats have been working since arriving at the White House in January. Is about a package of $ 1.9 billion
[Cuándo podría llegar el cheque]
The House Budget Committee approved the bill on Monday afternoon after a vote of 19-16, when Democrats passed the March 14 deadline to extend major unemployment programs.
The chairman of the House of Representatives, Democrat Nancy Pelosi, has made it his goal to pass it on there before the end of the monthso that it can then go to the Senate.
The Democrats, who will have to overcome some obstacles in the Senate, where they control the majority for one seat, want to reach the final approval of the package before unemployment benefits expire in mid-March
Below you can read some of the measures included in the proposal. Keep in mind that they can change as this progresses through Congress.
- Direct checks of $ 1,400 per person. The current proposal provides for them to be distributed to those who earn up to $ 75,000 per year ($ 150,000 if it is a couple). Based on these numbers, the amount of the payee check will decrease, depending on the higher your earnings.
- Payments of $ 1,400 for each child For this benefit, the Democrats plan to include undocumented migrants as well. The eligibility criteria depend on the income of the households and are the same as those expected for direct controls.
- Annual help for families The Democratic proposal also stipulates that families will receive annual support of $ 3,000 for children between the ages of 6 and 17, or 3,600 for younger children.
- Unemployment benefits It is proposed to extend these scholarships, which are $ 400 per week, until August 29 of this year.
- Federal minimum wage of $ 15 an hour. According to the plan, this minimum figure will be reached within four years through gradual increases.
Some of the funds included in the plan are also expected to go to key sectors affected by the impact of COVID-19, such as schools and healthcare, and to help families in need of adequate food and maintain access to housing .
[“Queremos una reforma robusta para los indocumentados”, dice el senador Bob Menéndez]
Grants for small businesses
Biden also plans to announce this Monday changes to the Small Business Protection Program, including those of Hispanics.
The changes aim to facilitate loans to contractors and the self-employed, legal residents with no citizenship, and business owners with lesser backgrounds, officials said. Also opens 14 days from March 9 for companies with less than 20 employees to ask for help.
[¿Trabaja por su cuenta? Siga estas recomendaciones para tener los mismos beneficios que un empleado]
An official recalled that at least 400,000 small businesses in the United States have closed since the start of the pandemic. Biden has criticized the small business protection program as it was launched under the management of its predecessor, Donald Trump, claiming that it ultimately favored large companies, while small businesses struggled with access to the crisis. them.
With information from NBC News.