Ed Gaines

Mar 6, 20211 min

Senate passes $1.9 trillion Covid relief bill, including $1,400 stimulus checks

The Senate passed a $1.9 trillion coronavirus relief package Saturday.

The legislation includes $1,400 stimulus checks, $300-per-week jobless benefits through summer, a child allowance of up to $3,600 for one year, $350 billion for state aid, $34 billion to expand Affordable Care Act subsidies, and $14 billion for vaccine distribution.

The final vote was 50-49 along party lines, with every Republican voting "no."

The Senate's changes include reducing the jobless benefits to $300 (from $400 in the House bill) and extending them slightly to September 6. The Senate limited eligibility for the $1,400 checks by capping the payments for those who make $80,000, or $160,000 for couples. And the bill subsidizes 100 percent of COBRA insurance coverage for jobless Americans, up from 85 percent in the House version. (NBC News)


 

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