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Senate Democrats Advocate for Regular Stimulus Payments
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The proposed American Rescue Plan, the latest fiscal stimulus proposal crafted by President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris, is currently en route to the United States Senate. Should it secure a majority vote, then apart from various advantages for the American populace, individuals under a certain income threshold will be granted a third stimulus payment of $1,400. Nevertheless, while this financial assistance will be beneficial, a large number of Americans are still facing severe challenges as the pandemic persists. In the perspective of a coalition of senators, periodic one-time payments are insufficient to address the situation.
In a communication dispatched to President Biden today, a consortium of eleven Democratic senators has urged for the incorporation of recurring direct payments, along with improved and prolonged unemployment benefits in the ongoing economic recovery strategy.
“The crisis is ongoing, and families require assurance that they can afford basic necessities and maintain shelter,” as articulated in the letter. “Families should not be subjected to fluctuating legislative schedules and temporary measures.”
American families struggling in this pandemic and economic crisis need and deserve recurring direct payments. https://t.co/VhOgePZLQa
— Ed Markey (@EdMarkey) March 2, 2021
Biden is anticipated to shift his focus towards the economic recovery proposal subsequent to the successful enactment of the American Rescue Plan. The prime objective of the initiative is to facilitate the revival of the American economy from the substantial harm inflicted by the pandemic, with a focus on infrastructure and manufacturing. The present extension of unemployment benefits is set to expire on March 14 unless the American Rescue Plan is ratified, albeit this will only prolong the benefits until August. While vaccination campaigns are being accelerated nationwide, the timeline for the pandemic to subside to a manageable level remains uncertain, indicating a looming challenge in the labor market.
The senators have refrained from specifying the frequency or amount of these potential payments.
