Biden Has First Major Victory with Signing of $1.9 Trillion Relief Bill into Law

By: Adam Beam 3/12/21

It has been the main goal so far of the Biden administration, and now with it passing the House of Representatives, President Biden could now be seeing his first major victory of his presidency with his new COVID Relief Bill. The major focus of the bill is set to give another round of $1,400 stimulus checks to millions, as well as extending benefits for unemployment and helping the ongoing vaccine distribution process.

Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, Joe Biden has been open that his number one priority was to help relieve the damage caused by the disease, and now Biden is set to deliver on one of the major promises of his campaign.

With the bill passing some of the benefits, it will include more eligibility standards for unemployment insurance, as well as $300 weekly for jobless aid supplements all till September 6th.

There will of course be $1,400 stimulus checks for all eligible Americans and their dependents, however the payments will phase out at any individuals who make more than $75,000 in monthly income and are cut off at $80,000 or higher.

$20 billion will be put towards the ongoing vaccine distribution efforts, $120 billion to all K-12 schools, $350 billion to state, local and tribal governments, and $30 billion to restaurants.

There are numerous other benefits and relief worked into the bill, however it should be noted that the bill has faced a number of setbacks mainly at the hands of the GOP. Many Republicans felt that the bill was redundant and unnecessary, and that the Democrats were pushing agendas not connected with COVID relief.

Ron Johnson, the senator from Wisconsin attempted to delay the vote by forcing the Senate to read all 628 pages it entailed. Despite their efforts the bill passed in the House with a vote 220-211, with only one Democrat, Jared Golden of Maine opposing it.

Thursday afternoon, President Biden officially signed the bill Thursday afternoon, a day earlier than expected. While it is unclear when the bill will begin to take shape, and rollouts on its promises will begin to take place, it could determine the legacy of Biden’s first year in office moving forward, as well as being a game changer in the midst of the ongoing pandemic.