The House Ways and Means Committee voted to approve a portion of President Joe Biden’s $ 1.9 trillion stimulus plan, including $ 1,400 stimulus checks, on Thursday.
The panel approved a portion of the package worth hundreds of billions of dollars, mostly made up of direct payments, in a 24-18 vote according to party lines after two days of debate on the legislation. The proposal now moves to the House Budget Committee. If it goes through the House in a floor vote expected later this month, Democrats in the Senate can approve the proposal without any Republican support during the budget reconciliation process.
“The Ways and Means Committee has for the past two days considered aggressive, science-based solutions that will provide the urgent relief our country so urgently needs,” said Richard E. Neal (D-Mass.), Chairman of the committee, in said a statement. “From unemployment benefits to affordable health care, the work we have done is substantial, and that is exactly what the American people are urging us to do to achieve this moment.”
“To my colleagues on the committee, the incredible staff of the committee and the many others who worked all the time to make this happen, thank you for putting the American people first and showing them that help is on the way,” continued Neal. “I look forward to this package being signed to Congress and President Biden.”
The part of the stimulus package that the committee advanced technically related to taxation. All bills dealing with taxes must be passed by the Manners and Resources Committee before being put to the vote. In addition to the $ 1,400 incentive controls, the advanced legislation includes increasing federal unemployment benefits from $ 300 to $ 400 per week and increasing tax credits for children. It also includes extensive tax credits that include health care and funding to help nursing homes combat COVID-19.
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Earlier this week, Democrats confirmed that the bill should give the $ 1400 checks to individuals earning $ 75,000 or less per year, and couples earning $ 150,000 per year. The payments will be reduced for those who exceed the income tax, before being completely phased out for individuals earning more than $ 100,000 and couples earning more than $ 200,000.
Recent disagreements over income taxes have led to considerable debate between Democrats and Republicans, with some moderate Democrats also favoring a more “targeted” approach to the distribution of payments. Both of the previously approved stimulus tests had a similar income limit as the current proposal. Legislators quickly rejected a Republican proposal that would lower the limit to $ 40,000 for individuals and $ 80,000 for couples, while also reducing the amount of the benefit to $ 1,000.
Newsweek reaches out to the office of Representative Kevin Brady (R-Texas), ranking member of the GOP member of the Ways and Means Committee, for comment.