Stimulus checks to be approved before the holidays

The long-awaited second round of stimulus checks could be coming within the next couple of weeks as Washington lawmakers continue to negotiate the next relief package. According to Democrat and Republican lawmakers, President Donald Trump and President-elect Joe Biden agree on supporting another round of stimulus checks for individuals.

Congress is working on a new coronavirus (COVID-19) aid package to pass before courts close for the upcoming holidays. The current proposed package is estimated to be half of the first COVID-19 aid package that will offer approximately $600 to $700 per individual.

Stimulus checks: Could you get $1,200, $600 or nothing? https://t.co/5k5j7rpXMB

— CBS News (@CBSNews) December 17, 2020

The first stimulus package under the CARES Act granted Americans $1,200 in the Spring committing $300 billion in funding. The White House revealed the stimulus plan package for a reduced $600 stimulus payments while President Donald Trump wants to send bigger checks.

On Monday, the $908 billion package proposal lacking the aid package for the second round of $1,200 stimulus checks with lawmakers debating whether the second round of stimulus checks are necessary. The proposed package requested funding for vaccines, small businesses, and schools as well as food assistance, federal unemployment benefits for $300 per week (for 16 weeks), and student loan forbearance.

There is a proposed second part of the package to include local and state aid as well as liability protection that would cover the second round of stimulus checks. Last week Senators Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) and Bernie Sanders (I-Vt) worked together to attach legislation to the aid package to cover stimulus checks with Sanders requesting direct payments for Americans.

Senator Sanders has recognized the urgency to pass another stimulus package bill before the courts close for the holidays. One solution for the funding was to shift the price figure to cover all Americans without having to add additional funding to the package.

Lawmakers argue that the development of the vaccine has also caused a major shift in much-needed funding as well as helping small businesses and long-term unemployed workers. Though this might be a temporary fix to the funding issues, lawmakers recognize that more needs to be done after the delay in releasing the second round of stimulus checks.