Congress Passes COVID Relief Bill: What MD Residents Need To Know

WASHINGTON, DC — More aid for unemployed Marylanders and those struggling to pay bills because of the coronavirus pandemic could soon be on the way to individual bank accounts. The United States House of Representatives Wednesday passed a final version of the $1.9 trillion coronavirus relief package.

The goal was to pass the American Rescue Plan, which aims to combat the pandemic and bolster the American economy, and deliver it to President Joe Biden by March 14 — the day emergency jobless benefits expire. Biden is supposed to sign the bill Friday, according to media reports.

As with the Senate version, House Republicans were unanimous in their opposition to the bill. Only Rep. Jared Golden, a Maine Democrat, broke with his party to vote against the bill.

Sen. Chris Van Hollen, D-MD, welcomed passage of the final version of the bill. "The House has just acted and the American Rescue Plan is on its way to President Biden's desk for signature. Great news for Americans. Help is on the way!" the senator said in a tweet.

"The #AmericanRescuePlan is on its way to @POTUS desk & Americans in need," tweeted Maryland senior Senator Ben Cardin. "This package is big news for Maryland w/ an unprecedented amount of aid headed to Baltimore City & all corners of our state. This is the bold action we need to recover from #COVID19."

See Also: How To Get The Coronavirus Vaccine In Maryland

Rep. Andy Harris, the lone Republican member of Maryland's Congressional delegation, voted against the package, which he called a "pricey liberal wish list."

"If Democrats were serious about focusing on COVID-19, they would focus on spending the $1 trillion in currently unspent stimulus dollars, reopening schools, and following the science on vaccine policy."

Stimulus Checks

Most notably, the measure will provide the much-anticipated $1,400 payments to individuals who meet certain income criteria.

The maximum amount for the third round of stimulus checks will be $1,400 for any eligible individual or $2,800 per eligible couple filing taxes jointly. Each eligible dependent — including adult dependents — also will qualify for a payment of $1,400. That means a family of four could receive as much as $5,600 in total.

Checks of up to $1,400 will go to individuals making $80,000 or less, single parents earning up to $120,000 and couples with household income of less than $160,000.

According to CNET, checks sent to direct deposit accounts could start going out the week of March 17. Paper checks could start being mailed the following week.

Child Tax Credit

One big benefit that could help families around the country is a boost in the child tax credit.

The credit, which is now at a maximum of $2,000, is being raised to as much as $3,600 per child under 6 and $3,000 per child between the ages of 6 and 16 for 2021. It will be paid out in monthly installments starting in this July and will include more low-income households.

The expanded credit begins to phase out for those earning $75,000 a year or $150,000 for couples.

More Federal Aid

In addition to direct payments, the legislation would provide hundreds of billions of dollars for schools and colleges, coronavirus vaccines and testing, mass transit systems, renters and small businesses.

It also has money for child care and assistance for states willing to expand Medicaid coverage for low-income residents.

Federal unemployment payments of $300 per week will be extended through Sept. 6.

An increase in the minimum wage was not a part of the House bill that just passed.