President Signs ‘American Rescue Plan’ Bill

WASHINGTON – President Joe Biden signed his sweeping $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief package known as the ‘American Rescue Plan’ into law Thursday.

The bill’s passage Wednesday marked the first major legislative achievement of the new administration.

Key features of the relief package include:

• Up to $1,400-per-person stimulus payments that will send money to about 90% of households (Use our calculator to see if you’ll qualify for a stimulus check.)
• A $300 federal boost to weekly jobless benefits
• An expansion of the child tax credit of up to $3,600 per child
• $350 billion in state and local aid, as well as billions of dollars for K-12 schools to help students return to the classroom, to assist small businesses hard-hit by the pandemic and for vaccine research, development and distribution.
• Extends a 15% increase in food stamp benefits through September
• Helps low-income households cover rent

The bill arrived at the White House overnight, a White House official said, and Biden decided he wanted to sign it as soon as possible. He was originally expected to sign the bill Friday afternoon.