Biden introduces $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief package that includes $1,400 stimulus checks

From JSOnline:

Rebecca Morin

USA TODAY

 

President-elect Joe Biden introduced a $1.9 trillion spending package Thursday that aims to speed distribution of the coronavirus vaccines and provide economic relief caused by the pandemic.

The package proposal includes investing $20 billion in a national vaccination program, $1,400 stimulus checks and expanding unemployment insurance supplements to $400 per week.

"During this pandemic, millions of Americans through no fault of their own, have lost the dignity and respect that comes with a job and a paycheck," Biden said during a nearly 25-minute speech Thursday. "There is real pain, overwhelming the real economy."

"There's no time to waste. We have to act, and we have to act now," he said.

During his speech, Biden noted that this was the first of a two-part plan to in the road to recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. Biden said that he would introduce a recovery plan next month during his address to a joint session of Congress.

Read more: https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/politics/2021/01/14/biden-covid-relief-package-includes-vaccination-stimulus-checks/4164949001/