Dems push Biden for recurring monthly stimulus checks until Covid pandemic is over
A GROUP of Democratic senators is begging President Joe Biden to provide recurring stimulus checks to low-income Americans throughout the Covid pandemic.
They have penned a letter urging Biden to provide ongoing relief in his next major economic package to give struggling households stability.
President Joe Biden's $1.9trillion stimulus bill was approved last Wednesday.
It included $1,400 checks which are set to be sent out in full to Americans who make up to $75,000 and married couples who make up to $150,000 a year.
But the group of 11 Democrats said the pandemic has not ended and families need regular help until it does.
In the letter senators wrote: "We urge you to include recurring direct payments and automatic unemployment insurance extensions tied to economic conditions in your Build Back Better long-term economic plan.
“This crisis is far from over, and families deserve certainty that they can put food on the table and keep a roof over their heads.
"Families should not be at the mercy of constantly-shifting legislative timelines and ad hoc solutions."
The letter was drafted by Senate Finance Committee Chairman Ron Wyden of Oregon, and has been signed by Budget Committee Chairman Bernie Sanders of Vermont, Banking Committee Chairman Sherrod Brown of Ohio, Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren, New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker and New York Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, among others.
This crisis is far from over, and families deserve certainty that they can put food on the table and keep a roof over their heads
The White House said the president would release the details of his Build Back Better plan after the Senate considers the $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan.
But Sen. Ed Markey, D-Mass., who also saigned the letter, said: "American families struggling in this pandemic and economic crisis need and deserve recurring direct payments.”
However, winning approval for recurring aid will be an uphill battle.
Critics on the left and right have argued the $1,400 checks provided were not targeted enough while others were shocked atf spending $422 billion on direct payments.
Meanwhile, JPMORGAN Chase and Wells Fargo customers have been left fuming as their $1,400 stimulus checks are still not available, reports say.
Some Americans using their services have expressed frustration this week that the Covid-19 payment hasn't hit their account yet, despite other people receiving theirs.
The IRS starting rolling out the third round of stimulus checks to eligible adults and children – but for Chase and Wells Fargo customers, the coronavirus relief payments won't arrive until March 17.
That is the official payment date, Wells Fargo and JPMorgan Chase told CBS, as the former insisted that it "is not holding the funds" and intends on distributing the cash as soon as possible.
One small FinTech has already advanced payments to its customers without receiving the government funds on March 12 – just one day after President Joe Biden signed the historic $1.9 trillion bill into law.
On Monday, Nacha, the organization that governs the ACH Network, the organization that manages electronic transfers told CBS that the IRS' March 17 date, saying there's "no mystery."
Meanwhile, Biden said on Thursday "this historic legislation is about a fighting chance" before he added his signature to the landmark package in Washington, DC.
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