Fourth Stimulus Control Gains Support in Congress While Third Round Still Underway

A fourth stimulus relief check is gathering momentum in Congress as many people still await their third cycle of COVID relief. President Biden’s America Rescue Plan began handing out $ 1,400 in stimulus checks more than two weeks ago to those with direct deposit accounts registered with the IRS.

Today, 64 Washington lawmakers want relief checks to be recurring, starting with a fourth stimulus while many are still waiting for paper government checks.

A group of 11 progressive senators, including Bernie Sanders (I-VT) and Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Earlier this month urged Biden to make stimulus payments and prolonged unemployment a thing of the past during the next spending bill.

“We urge you to include recurring direct payments and automatic extensions of unemployment insurance linked to economic conditions in your long-term economic plan Build Back Better,” the senators wrote to the president. “This crisis is far from over and families deserve to be assured that they can put food on the table and keep a roof over their heads.

“Families should not be at the mercy of constantly changing legislative timetables and ad hoc solutions.”

The other Senators are Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Cory Booker (DN.J.), Kirsten Gillibrand (DN.Y.), Michael F. Bennet (D-Colo.) , Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), Edward Markey (D-Mass.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) And Tammy Baldwin (D-Wisc.).

Senators said direct payments not only “help keep families out of poverty, but they act as an economic stimulus by increasing spending and supporting jobs.” Senators said that when the previous two payments of $ 600 were quickly spent, “poverty increased” in America.

They added that recurring payments from economic experts and “65% of Americans” are broadly supported in a poll.

Senators urged the president to be “bold” on his Build Better plan.

“As you said, now is the time to be bold. As you prepare your Build Back Better plan for long-term economic recovery, know that we are ready to work with you to support direct controls. recurring and extended unemployment insurance benefits to support Americans still struggling during the pandemic, ”they wrote.

Recurring payments also have a wave of support with House Democrats, led by Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.). The group of 53 representatives also wrote a letter to President Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris.

“It was very encouraging to see the inclusion of direct cash aid in your current economic bailout. However, it is clear that during this unprecedented time in our country’s history, we must take action. additional unprecedented, ”the group wrote.

Biden has not shown support for other payments and the latest stimulus package passed without Republican support.

Democrats have used a process called reconciliation to pass the last set of checks for $ 1,400, but this budget process can only be used once per fiscal year. The next fiscal year begins on October 1 and cases are decreasing as the number of vaccinations increases.

With Democrats having a majority in both houses of Congress, the move that has already started for a fourth payment – and is repeated thereafter – could put pressure on Biden to side with his fellow Democrats.

Newsweek contacted the White House for comment.