Unemployment benefits for millions of Americans expired on Sunday, before President Trump signed the economic aid package COVID-19 and the $ 1.4 trillion spending bill to fund the government. Congress passed the bill on December 21, after weeks of negotiations that included members of the Trump administration itself.
Mr. Trump signed the bill on Sunday night, about 18 hours after the end of unemployment insurance.
It is estimated that 12 million Americans lost unemployment benefits after two major government programs authorized by the Coronavirus Aid, Aid and Economic Security Act, or CARES Act, expired on December 26, according to a study released last week by The Century Foundation, a group progressive reflection.
Mr. Trump refused to sign the account over $ 600 stimulus checks, instead insisting on $ 2,000 checks. Over the weekend, he also instructed Congress to get rid of the bill’s “pork”, although he did not specify what he meant by pork, which generally refers to attachments added to bills that are favorites or local causes of members of Congress.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said On Thursday, the House would vote on Monday for a stand-alone bill that would provide checks for $ 2,000 to Americans. She said the project was blocked by Republicans. Trump said in a statement late on Sunday that the Senate would begin work on this bill, although it is unclear what future it would have, since Senate Republicans had already blocked these payments.
COVID-19’s massive $ 900 billion economic relief bill includes not only $ 600 stimulus checks, but also greater unemployment benefits, $ 284.45 billion in small business loans, $ 25 billion in direct rental assistance, $ 82 billion in education financing, $ 45 billion in public transport systems and $ 13 billion for increased food stamps and child nutrition benefits.
The project also extends the eviction moratorium for another month. If not approved, millions of tenants who have delayed their rent may be evicted.
In addition to economic relief, the deal also allocates more than $ 30 billion to support the acquisition and distribution of the coronavirus vaccine and $ 27 billion for state health tests and programs.
President-elect Joe Biden on Saturday urged Mr. Trump to sign the bill.
“It is the day after Christmas, and millions of families do not know whether they will be able to pay the bills because of President Donald Trump’s refusal to sign an economic relief bill passed by Congress with an overwhelming, bipartisan majority,” he said. Biden said in a statement on Saturday.
Mr. Trump is in Florida, at his resort in Mar-a-Lago, for the holiday.