Financial relief is coming for millions of Americans after the House of Representatives passed a massive $2 trillion coronavirus stimulus bill. The package will provide checks directly to individuals and families, along with an enormous boost in unemployment benefits, financial assistance for small business and hospitals, and loans for businesses impacted by the shutdowns across the country.
The bill provides direct payments to Americans, giving individuals who earn up to $75,000 a year $1,200. Couples making up to $150,000 a year will receive $2,400, along with an additional $500 per child.
The bill also extends unemployment benefits to workers who would not typically qualify, such as furloughed employees and freelancers, and increases the maximum unemployment benefit that a state can give to a person by $600 per week for up to four months.
The bill was passed via a voice vote, despite an attempt by Kentucky Republican Thomas Massie to demand for a roll-call vote.
President Trump signed the bill a few hours later and tweeted that "this bill will deliver urgently-needed relief for our nation’s families, workers, and businesses."
To keep up to date on the latest news about the coronavirus and to understand what you need to stay safe and healthy, check out the Coronavirus: Fact vs. Fiction podcast from CNN Chief Medical Correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta.
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