On March 5th and 6th, the House accepted President Joe Biden’s $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief bill in Washington. The Washington Post said that “Democrats touted the breadth of the legislation, which they have begun to frame not just as a bill to attack the coronavirus pandemic and economic downturn, but as a generational anti-poverty measure. This legislation represents the boldest action taken on behalf of the American people since the Great Depression.” The House plans to allow full access on March 10th so President Biden can start pushing money out the door, which includes $14,000, $300 a week for federal jobless benefits and funds for vaccine distribution. 

This legislation also includes a per-child cash payment of $3,000 for one year. NBC News writes, “Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney of New York, chair of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, said selling the COVID-19 aid bill will be “a big piece of the puzzle” to hold the House majority. Anytime you’re delivering for the American people, you’re strengthening your position politically…we should shout from the rooftops that we are passing historic legislation that will reboot the economy and end the pandemic.”

Not only will the stimulus relief package give out $1,400 stimulus checks, but it will also continue the $300-per-week boost to unemployment benefits. The child tax benefit will become more generous; money will fight the pandemic and help the state education and government system. The Affordable Care Act will get a boost.

The New York Times  said, “As part of the stimulus plan, Mr. Biden wanted to raise the federal minimum wage, which is now $7.25 per hour, to $15 per hour.”

The stimulus bill passed by the House will increase the wage to $15 per hour by 2025. But the Senate Parliamentarian said the provision violated the strict rules that Senate Democrats had to follow to pass the bill through a special process. On Friday, March 5th, a vote in the Senate to add the wage increase back to the bill failed.

So, the Biden stimulus check is essentially a relief bill for the coronavirus pandemic with added benefits for people who are struggling with low income. This can help the students of North Forsyth High School struggling with the effects of the pandemic.