Biden to sign two decrees on Covid economic aid and worker protection

WASHINGTON – President Joe Biden plans to sign two executive orders on Friday to address the economic toll of the coronavirus pandemic, including increasing food stamps and starting the process demanding that all who work for the federal government receive a minimum wage of $ 15 an hour.

National Economic Council Director Brian Deese said the orders, which add to the number of times Biden has already approved, are “not a substitute” for the massive Covid-19 relief bill from $ 1.9 trillion that Biden hopes Congress will adopt, but rather a “critical lifeline” for millions of Americans who need help now.

“The American people cannot afford to wait. Many are hanging by a thread,” he said.

Biden’s ‘whole-of-government’ effort will require the agriculture ministry to increase a Covid-19 food assistance program by 15% that provides nutritional assistance to families with children who would normally receive free or reduced lunches when schools were in regular session, as well as expanding the emergency increase in benefits from the Supplementary Nutritional Assistance Program authorized by Congress to include those with the lowest incomes.

The order will also require the Treasury Department to update its process for issuing direct payments after a number of eligible Americans reported problems and delays in obtaining the first two rounds of stimulus checks. last year, a hurdle Biden hopes to avoid with the third round of payments included. in his relief bill.

Biden will also ask the Department of Labor to allow workers who turn down a job for fear of health risks to qualify for unemployment benefits. The ordinance will create a system of coordination among federal agencies to help people better understand the relief benefits to which they are entitled.

The second executive order Biden is expected to sign will overturn orders signed by former President Donald Trump to restore collective bargaining power and ask federal agencies to pay a minimum wage of $ 15 an hour.

Biden will also begin planning to require federal contractors to pay a minimum wage of $ 15 and grant emergency paid time off.

Biden is inheriting a deeply damaged economy, with around 900,000 Americans claiming unemployment benefits last week, according to the first labor market data released under his presidency. Coronavirus deaths in the country have passed 400,000.

Biden has signed a number of executive orders since taking office on Wednesday to quickly roll back some Trump-era policies, as well as tackle the coronavirus.

On Thursday, Biden signed an executive order requiring people to wear masks at airports and on planes, trains and sea vessels. He also ordered the agencies to use their powers, including the Defense Production Act, to speed up the production of shortage items.

Aides said further executive action is expected in the days and weeks to come.