Americans have been waiting to hear about the second round of stimulus checks for economic relief during the pandemic. The amount would barely be enough to cover bills, food, and other necessities, but is necessary during a time when many are unemployed or underemployed. There has been no agreement on the next stimulus, and the details are currently up in the air.
California Senator Kamala Harris has another idea. She introduced the Monthly Economic Crisis Support Act to the US Senate back in May along with Senators Bernie Sanders (I-VT) and Ed Markey (D-MA). The bill would provide a $2000 stipend payment each month as well as student loan forgiveness.
“Together, with Bernie Sanders and Ed Markey, I’m proposing that we have not just that one-time check of $1,200,” Harris told MSNBC host Chris Hayes. “Through the course of this pandemic and crisis, we need to give people $2,000 a month as recurrent payments—people below a certain income level—to help them and sustain them through these months of crisis so at the end of it, they can get back up on their feet instead of falling deep deep deep into the crevices of this crisis. And, it does not make any sense, to your point, when we have Republicans in Congress who are standing in the way of supporting working people who have recently lost their jobs—[and] have every intention of working—when we can get through this crisis and [they] just need help from their government.”
The Monthly Economic Crisis Support Act would
- Give up to $2,000 a month to anyone earning up to $120,000 per year.
- The monthly payment begins to phase out, starting at $100,000 per year.
- Married couples who file jointly would receive up to $4,000.
- You can receive $2,000 for each dependent (maximum of three dependents).
- The legislation would be retroactive to March 2020.
- Every U.S. resident can receive payment, regardless if they file taxes or have a Social Security number.
- The payments would last until three months after the end of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Harris is the frontrunner to be Joe Biden‘s vice president and appeared on The ReidOut to plug his “Build Back Better” plan for racial equality and economic recovery. She spoke on Biden’s plan to make public college and HBCUs (including private HBCUs) tuition-free for families making less than $125k annually. The Senator talked about the part of the plan that includes a $10,000 student loan forgiveness for federal student loan borrowers due to Covid-19. She also spoke about the Rent Emergencies Leave Impacts on Evicted Families (RELIEF) Act. This act would help renters and homeowners by banning evictions and foreclosures for a year.
This is the most important election of our lifetime. With @JoeBiden as president, we'll be able to build an America that lives up to our ideals. pic.twitter.com/q9xVPd2PuF
— Kamala Harris (@KamalaHarris) July 29, 2020
What do you think of the Senator’s bill and her possibly becoming Joe Biden’s running mate?
