House Democrats released a revised version of the HEROES bill earlier this week The new bill includes a stimulus check2 although it significantly reduces spending from the original $34 trillion package passed in May
Entitled the HEROES Act, the $22 trillion bill would provide an additional $1,200 to low- and moderate-income families who qualify for the first stimulus package It also provides an additional $500 per dependent, regardless of age, including college students and adults with disabilities
Similar to the CARES Act passed in March, the House renewal bill would provide $1,200 to individuals earning less than $75,000 per year (if single) or less than $150,000 per year (if married)
Taxpayers who receive up to $99,000 and $198,000, respectively, would receive a pro-rated amount; under the CARES law, dependents were limited to those under the age of 17
The updated HEROES Act also reinstates the $600 weekly federal unemployment benefit supplement that expired at the end of July; according to CBS News, the payments are retroactive to September 6 and will continue through January 31, 2021
The new bill, along with the resumption of talks between House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, represents a step forward after nearly two months of no progress, but there is already pushback from House Republicans and apathy from Senate Republicans
The White House offered a counterproposal to the Democrats' amended bill on Wednesday, but Pelosi has already said it would not be a sufficient remedy to garner support in the House
The administration's $16 trillion package would slightly increase spending (up from the White House's previous $15 trillion) and also provide a stimulus check2 However, Mnuchin did not guarantee to Fox Business Channel's Lou Dobbs that the amount would be $1,200 per eligible individual, only that it would be "similar"
Mnuchin's proposal would provide only $400 per week in federal unemployment benefits dating back to September 12 and lasting until January 1, 2021, which Roll Call reports is less than the Democrats' desired amount but still $100 per week more than the Senate Republicans' proposal
Pelosi and other Democratic leaders have expressed optimism about the likelihood of a consensus, but there still appears to be an unfilled gap between them and the White House
"We are not going to have a $22 trillion agreement," Mnuchin said Wednesday night
Comments