Habemus COVID 19 Relief Bill; More will be Needed Soon

Photo from AP News

 There is a new COVID 19 Relief Bill. Finally!

It is the product of bipartisan compromise between Republicans and Democrats after Republican leadership in the Senate and White House vacillated for six months on this needed measure for the American People.

It will cost about $900 billion.

It contains a lot of good funding priorities for the American People.

It leaves some priorities out.

More work will need to be done when the new Biden/Harris Administration enters office on January 20, 2021.

What is in the new COVID 19 Relief Bill. 

There are many needed funded priorities and legislative measures in the new COVID 19 Relief Bill. According to reporting by the New York Times and Washington Post, these include:

• Direct one time payments of up to $600 per individual in a family up to $2400 if the individual's income is under $99,000 from 2019. This is less than what Democrats and even Donald Trump called for.
• Enhanced unemployment benefits of $300 a week from December 27, 2020, to March 14, 2021. This is less than what Democrats wanted. The previous unemployment enhanced benefit had been $600 a week.
• $284 billion for small business PPP forgivable loans.
• $15 billion for independent movie theaters and cultural institutions.
• $20 billion for targeted grants through the Economic Injury Disaster Loans program.
• A tax break, nicknamed the "three-martini lunch" for corporate meal expenses. With legislators arguing about the amount of SNAP in this bill, how the hell did this provision make it in the final bill?
• The Eviction Moratorium is extended until January 31, 2021.
• $25 billion in rental assistance.
• $20 billion for the purchase of vaccines; eight billion dollars for vaccine distribution and $20 billion to help states with testing. According to Post reporting: "House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer (D-N.Y.) said billions were “reserved specifically for combating the disparities facing communities of color, and to support our heroic health care workers and providers.”
• $82 billion for K-Post secondary education.
• $10 billion for child care.
• End surprise billing for medical care in most cases.
• $13 billion in increased food stamps and nutrition.
• Seven billion for broadband.
• $45 billion for transportation infrastructure including a quasi bailout of the airline industry.
• About a billion and a half for Trump's border wall with increased technology surveillance. Again why is this provision in here?
• A streamlining of the student school loan application process and increased eligibility for Pell Grants.
• A tax credit for employers who provide paid leave for their employees.

What is left out of the new COVID 19 Relief Bill?

Aid to State and Local Governments is the major item left out of this legislation. This is vital and needs to be incorporated into any future legislation. Despite what Republican legislators have said about not wanting to bail out blue states, they should take a look at how the Red States are starting to fiscally implode.

This is just a downpayment on what is needed later.

On news that a deal had been made on COVID 19 relief, President-Elect Biden issued a statement which read:

"I applaud the bipartisan Congressional economic relief package that will deliver critical resources to fight COVID-19, including funding for vaccine distribution, and much needed temporary relief for workers, families, and small businesses. In November, the American people spoke clearly that now is a time for action and compromise. I am heartened to see members of Congress heed that message, reach across the aisle, and work together. This is a model for the challenging work ahead for our nation."

"This bill provides critical temporary support for millions of Americans who have lost their jobs through no fault of their own, support to help keep families in their homes, and food on their table; and direct payments to help Americans make it through a dark winter. It gives a lifeline to small businesses struggling to stay afloat, having previously found themselves at the back of the line for relief. And, it provides an important downpayment on the investment we need in vaccine procurement and distribution, helping deliver these incredible vaccines around the country and offer the American people protection and peace of mind that there will be light at the end of the tunnel."

"But this action in the lame-duck session is just the beginning. Our work is far from over."

"On day one, my administration will be ready to undertake additional steps to get the virus under control and build our economy back better than it was before this crisis. In our first 100 days, we’ll be asking all Americans to mask up for 100 days; we’ll have a plan to administer 100 million vaccine shots in 100 days and to get most schools open in the first 100 days. These are bold, but doable steps to contain the virus and get back to our lives. But we will need to act quickly. We need to scale up vaccine production and distribution and acquire tens of millions more doses. We need to undertake an ambitious plan to educate the American people in the efficacy and safety of these vaccines so that we can all reap the benefits of their protection. We need to do more to protect the most vulnerable among us who even now, in the midst of this holiday season, are desperate for real cause for hope."

"As we do, we need to move immediately to create jobs and build back better than before. We cannot do this alone. Immediately, starting in the new year, Congress will need to get to work on support for our COVID-19 plan, for support to struggling families, and investments in jobs and economic recovery. There will be no time to waste."

"But I am optimistic that we can meet this moment, together. My message to everyone out there struggling right now, help is on the way."

The President-Elect is right. More help for the American People, the nation's states, and cities is needed to recover from the chaos the pandemic has brought.

Hopefully, Republican leadership will see this and work with Biden, Harris, and the rest of the Democrats to pass more stimulus and relief measures to move the People and Country forward.

Hopefully.