The $900 Billion Relief Package Congress Passed, December 2020, included extra $300 Weekly Unemployment Benefits through March 13th 2021, and Democrats are now calling for that Benefit to be Continued, as well as Raising it to $400 through the End of August 2021.
According to a Report from The Century Foundation, without a Benefits Extension, currently Four Million People in the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance Program and the Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation Program, will see their Benefits Expire and another 7.3 Million People will Experience a Lapse in Benefits in the following Month. The Foundation also Reported, on February 2nd 2021, that a Delay in Extending Unemployment Aid in December 2020 Cost Unemployed Americans $17 Billion in January 2021, stressing the Need for a prompt Extension this time around.
On February 27th 2021, the House Passed Biden's $1.9 Trillion Stimulus Plan and sent it to the Senate, where it now faces a Vote-a-Rama in which Members will Vote on Provisions within the Plan.
A $15 Minimum Wage Increase has already been Cut from the Bill, but Democrats are still Pushing to get the Bill Passed as Quickly as possible.
However, Republicans who Oppose the Size of the Stimulus Plan will Attempted to Slow the Process Down. Sen. Ron Johnson (R-WI) has, the Clerks Read the 600-Page Bill Aloud, that could take 10 hours, so Americans know what's in it.
Paid Sick and Family Leave: A Tax Incentive for Employers to offer Paid Sick and Family Leave will Expire on March 31st 2021, and Biden's Plan calls for Emergency Paid Leave Measures to be Extended through the End of September 2021 with a Maximum Paid Leave Benefit of $1,400 per Week. "We need to make sure that workers who have Covid-19 symptoms are quarantined and those who need to take care of their family members with Covid-19 symptoms should be able to stay home from work and still get paid," Biden said at a News Conference on January 14th 2021. "This will reduce the spread of the virus and make sure workers get the support they need to maintain their families."
Paycheck Protection Program (PPP): Not in the Stimulus Bill. Although Not Included, Small Business Pandemic Aid is also set to Expire this Month. On February 22nd 2021, Biden Amended the PPP Program to ensure Equitable Access to Relief, including the Opening of a Two-Week Period where the Smallest Businesses can Apply for the Program, along with Eliminating certain Restrictions that Prevented Businesses from Receiving Aid. However, Funds Distributed through the PPP are set to Expire on March 31st 2021, so Small Businesses have less than a Month before they will No Longer be able to Receive Aid through it.
Despite the PPP's Expiration, Biden's Stimulus Bill includes $50 Billion in Small Business Aid, including the Addition of $7.25 Billion to the PPP which could be Used before the End of the month, along with $25 Billion for Restaurants.
Federal Moratorium on Evictions: On his First day in Office, Biden Extended the Federal Moratorium on Evictions through March 31st 2021. However, a further Extension is Not included in the Stimulus Bill, and a Housing and Urban Development Administration Official said on a February 25th Press Call that another Extension is still under Consideration and would be Driven by Public Health considerations. According to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, One in Five Renters is Behind on Rent. Biden's Plan does include $20 Billion in Emergency Rental Assistance to Aid Struggling Renters.
NYC Wins When Everyone Can Vote! Michael H. Drucker
