President Donald Trump, after a week's delay, signed the $900 billion pandemic relief package that will deliver long-sought cash to businesses and individuals. The relief package is part of a massive $2.3 trillion coronavirus relief fund, which was signed into law, extending billions of dollars in coronavirus aid to millions. Trump signing the bill on Sunday has averted a government shutdown.
An estimated 12 million people facing unemployment due to the pandemic will benefit the bill. The beneficiaries were to receive their last payment this weekend, if not for the bill. Since the bill wasn't signed on Saturday, those in the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance and the Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation programs may not receive a payment for the final week of the year.
The beneficiaries of the bill will receive benefits for 11 more weeks. Those collecting jobless payments will receive a boost of $300 till March.
Beneficiaries of the two unemployment programs might not receive payments for several weeks as the Congress struck a deal only in December. On December 23, President Trump said he won't sign the bill unless the stimulus cheques were worth $2000. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi tweeted in agreement. She wrote, “Republicans repeatedly refused to say what amount the President wanted for direct checks. At last, the President has agreed to $2,000 — Democrats are ready to bring this to the Floor this week by unanimous consent. Let’s do it!”
Pelosi on Sunday said, Trump should "immediately call" on Republicans "to end their obstruction and to join him and Democrats in support of our stand-alone legislation to increase direct payment checks to $2,000."
Trump, who has complained about the US sending aid to other nations during the pandemic on Sunday said he would submit a request for Congress to cut specific spending items in the COVID relief and government funding package.
