U.S. House Passes $2,000 Stimulus for Americans, What’s Next?

Update: McConnell rejects $2,000 direct payments.

Mitch McConnell Rejects a Vote on $2,000 U.S. Stimulus Checks

Following President Donald Trump’s signing of the stimulus bill on Sunday night with $600 stimulus checks, the House on Monday voted to bump the amount to $2,000.

Late Monday afternoon, the House of Representatives voted to bump the approved $600 stimulus payments to $2,000 per person. The House-approved, Caring for Americans with Supplemental Help Act (CASH Act) now moves to the Senate. The Monday vote in the House followed President Donald Trump’s signing the $2.3 trillion combination federal-budget and COVID-relief bill on Sunday, which authorized the checks for up to $600 each for qualifying adults and children.

Now that the House has approved the increase, the proposal moves to the Senate, which will be in session on Tuesday. It’s not clear if the Republican-led Senate will take up the proposal for a larger payment.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said in a statement Sunday, “I applaud the President’s decision to get billions of dollars of crucial COVID-19 relief out the door and into the hands of American families. I am glad the American people will receive this much-needed assistance as our nation continues battling this pandemic.” But made no mention of if the Senate would approve the $2,000 direct payment measure.

“The President must immediately call on congressional Republicans to end their obstruction and to join him and Democrats in support of our stand-alone legislation to increase direct payment checks to $2,000, which will be brought to the Floor tomorrow,” House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said in a statement Sunday evening after Trump signed the stimulus legislation.

Every Republican vote against this bill is a vote to deny the financial hardship that families face and to deny the American people the relief they need,” Pelosi said.

We will update this story as the Senate goes into session on Tuesday.