President Donald Trump signed the $2 trillion coronavirus stimulus package on Friday, a law designed to provide relief to affected stakeholders as the COVID-19 continues to change the public health and economy of most nations around the world.
“I signed the single biggest economic relief package in American history,” Trump said in the Oval Office as his top economic advisors, and Republican congressional leaders stood behind him. “This will deliver urgently needed relief to our nation’s families, workers, and businesses, and that’s what this is all about.”
Late Friday, the Congress has passed the bill through a voice vote, which simply measures if more lawmakers shout for “aye” or “nay” on whether to support it. The legislation pushed through amid Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky, attempts to force a full yes or no vote amongst his colleagues, which would delay the passage of the bill by hours.
A concerted move from lawmakers who rushed to Washington in cars and near-empty planes has headed off Massie’s efforts. Irritated by the action of the Republican lawmaker, some eviscerated him for risking their safety.
The bill, which includes provisions on one-time payments to individuals, strengthened unemployment insurance, additional health-care funding and loans, and grants to businesses to deter layoffs, has been passed by the Senate on a unanimous vote on Wednesday night. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has described the bill “as mitigation” of the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, which would eventually encourage the legislature to draft more laws to aid in the “recovery” of the nation once the epidemic is resolved.
President Donald Trump earlier said that once the legislative has come up with a stimulus bill, he would sign it “immediately.” The law is expected to green-light the distribution of at least $1,200 direct payments to some individuals who are affected by the virus. It is still unsure how quickly the government will dole out some of the money, such as increased unemployment benefits and small business loans, but the White House assured that some would receive the aid in the next three weeks.
