Marathon work by Ways and Means Committee advances urgent aid to help Americans weather pandemic; zero Republicans join
U.S. Rep. Bill Pascrell, Jr. (D-NJ-09) today marked the work of the House Ways and Means Committee this week approving nearly $1 Trillion of President Biden’s emergency COVID-19 relief package following two days of marathon hearings.
“The work our committee undertook this week may be the most important step in our fight against this virus,” said Rep. Pascrell. “Americans are suffering grievously and cry out for help from the government. We hear them. I hear them. Democrats have been entrusted with complete control of the federal government and are rewarding that trust by moving with absolute urgency. In one swoop, this legislation will help lift up a nation and alleviate the suffering of tens of millions. For Congress or any representative to do anything less would be inconceivable.
“Through this work, Chairman Richard Neal led us expertly, and our success this week may be our chairman’s finest hour. I hope the nation watching saw that this legislation was passed without one vote of support from Republicans. One party is dedicated to lifting America from its knees and defeating this virus. The other side isn’t. Republicans’ callousness is despicable.”
Highlights of the legislation passed by the Ways and Means Committee this week
Direct stimulus checks. New additional direct payments of $1,400 for many Americans, raising the total recent relief to $2,000 for many.
Support for unemployed Americans. Extends federal unemployment benefits through August, 29 2021, while increasing the weekly benefit from $300 to $400.
Expanded tax credits. Expands the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) for workers without children, approximately tripling the maximum credit.
Expanded child tax credit. Expands the Child Tax to $3,000 per child; also expands the Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit (CDCTC).
Strengthens the ACA. Increases Affordable Care Act premium tax credits for the next two years, reducing health care premiums for middle class Americans.
Help for nursing homes. Provides new tools and expanded resources for nursing homes and long-term care facilities to help them defeat COVID-19, increase social services, and combat abuse.
Coverage for unemployed workers. Supports the continuation of unemployed workers’ health coverage through subsidizing COBRA while also providing predictable enhanced subsidies for small businesses, self-employed, and gig economy workers impacted by the pandemic.
Protect worker pensions. Stabilizes pensions for more than a million American workers and sustains the multiemployer pension system to keep workers and retirees out of poverty.
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