- A House committee approved Biden’s proposed $ 1,400 stimulus checks with a party vote.
- Different committees are working on different elements of Biden’s $ 1.9 billion relief package.
- The package can get a full vote in the House during the week of February 22nd.
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The House Ways and Means Committee on Thursday approved several measures of President Joe Biden’s stimulus package, including the controversial $ 1,400 direct payments to Americans.
In total, the committee approved $ 593.5 billion in benefits, with votes along party lines, according to Bloomberg.
Biden’s proposed $ 1.9 billion bailout package includes, in addition to direct payments, $ 400 weekly federal unemployment benefits, an increased child tax credit and assistance to local and state governments.
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“The $ 600 rebate that Congress rendered in December did not do enough,” Democratic Representative Suzan DelBene told Bloomberg Thursday during committee discussions. “It is critical relief to help families cope with this crisis.”
The latest round of proposed stimulus checks was a controversial part of Biden’s package, with Republicans and some Democrats voicing their opposition to the payments. According to Biden’s plan, $ 1400 checks would be issued to individuals earning $ 75,000 or less and couples earning $ 150,000 or less.
Democrats, however, pushed for a plan to issue the payments to individuals earning $ 50,000 or less, but the opposition met with opponents, including Senator Bernie Sanders and Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.
On Tuesday, Biden indicated that it supports keeping the income threshold for payments at $ 75,000 for individuals.
House Democrats on Monday introduced legislation in line with Biden’s original threshold plans, Insider reported earlier. However, the legislation would limit the amount for higher earners, phasing out direct payments for individuals earning more than $ 100,000 and couples earning more than $ 200,000.
Different house committees are working on aspects of the stimulus package, so it is possible that other parts of the plan may be changed before it is put to the vote. According to Bloomberg, the chamber is expected to vote on the entire package during the week of February 22nd.
The measures approved by the House Ways and Means Committee on Thursday also included advance tax credits and tax credits for low-income workers.