President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris are preparing to take the road to boost support for the $ 1.9 billion stimulus package, as some Americans have begun to see the $ 1,400 checks arrive in their bank accounts.
In the next few days, Biden and Harris will be accompanied by their spouses as they travel to a handful of swing states for the so-called “Help Is Here” tour, during which the Democratic leaders will promote the most popular elements in their America. Rescue plan – including direct payments and assistance to parents.
Their goal is to divert Republican criticism of the comprehensive bill that Democrats recently passed through Congress without GOP support.
“This is the largest expansion of the welfare state since Lyndon Baines Johnson in the 1960s,” Florida Representative Michael Waltz, a Republican, said.
Alex Wong / Getty Images
First lady Jill Biden will launch the tour on Monday by visiting a school in Burlington County, New Jersey, according to local news reports. She will then travel to New Hampshire later this week.
The White House has announced that President Biden will begin his tour of Delaware County, Pennsylvania, on Tuesday before leaving for Atlanta on Friday.
Meanwhile, Harris and her husband, Doug Emhoff, will advance the emergency relief bill in Las Vegas on Monday and in Denver on Tuesday. According to the Associated Press, Emhoff will pay a solo visit to Albuquerque, New Mexico, on Wednesday.
The House passed the stimulus package largely according to party lines in a final vote of 220-211 earlier this week, with all Republicans and one Democrat – Rep. Jared Golden of Maine – votes against the bill. The president signed the bill Thursday afternoon.
After the Biden government confirmed that the first batch of $ 1400 checks had been sent Friday, some qualifying Americans went to social media on Saturday to report that the payments had ended up in their bank accounts.
“Stimulus got my bill thanks Biden,” tweeted Andrew Palmer of Washington DC
stimulus hits my account thank you 💕
– Andrew Palmer (@andrewDC_) 13 March 2021
“Well, it was fast! Stimulus check arrived and my internet banking services did not crash this time!” tweeted Sara Ackerson of Portland, Oregon.
Well, it was fast! Stimulus check has arrived and my internet banking services did not crash this time!
– Sara Ackerson (@sara_ackerson) 12 March 2021
The Department of Treasury has confirmed that the first group will go to those who provided direct deposit information in 2019 or 2020. The second group of recipients are those who did not provide electronic deposit information in recent tax returns but submitted their information to the IRS due to other government programs. The paper checks and electronic impact payment cards (EIP) are expected to be sent by the end of March.
Newsweek issued the White House for further information.