The House of Representatives Ways and Means Committee has released their proposal for relevant COVID19 relief measures to go through reconciliation. The provisions are largely just enacting the items from President Biden's plan - there are not any surprises or bold choices. The full press release and section by section breakdown from Chairman Richard Neal is here.
It includes:
1,400 checks. It does not lower the income threshold as was feared. Checks are also given to all dependents.
Extensions of temporary federal unemployment programs through August 29, 2021.
An increase of the weekly FPUC unemployment boost from $300 to $400.
Extensive tax credits for low income individuals and people with children and dependents.
COBRA subsidy coverage through the end of the fiscal year and health care subsidies for unemployed workers who are ineligible for COBRA.
ExtendPUA.org Founder Statement:
"We are glad to see the extensive health care provisions and COBRA extensions included in this text. We are also glad to see the weekly FPUC payments increased from $300 to $400, but disappointed to not see it increased to the full $600 Democrats previously advocated for. For the last 6 months, Democrats blamed the compromised amount on Republican obstruction, which Reconciliation avoids. It seems the Democrats have now compromised with themselves at the expense of the millions of jobless Americans. They did not push for a bolder plan than the President and now we are stuck negotiating under another arbitrary and insufficient spending cap that hinders real relief.
This new August deadline for federal unemployment programs is foolish and cruel, just giving long term pandemic unemployed workers another cliff to worry about. There is no retroactive relief in this proposal to compensate for months on inaction and the associated debt that has fallen onto the American people. There isn't even tax relief for unemployed workers. While the tax credits included do assist low income families, middle income earners who have been unemployed for 10 months now, especially those who are childless are left out. This crisis is a health and joblessness crisis. This legislation, while necessary, does not fully reconcile those needs." Stephanie Freed, Co-Founder
They are beginning markup on all of these provisions Wednesday and hope to finish by Friday. If your Representative is on the Ways and Means Committee, reach out to them. Scripts and talking points at ExtendPUA.org/strategy.
Don't know who your Rep is, check here.
Ways and Means Committee (House) Richard E. Neal, Chair (D-MA) Lloyd Doggett (D-TX) Mike Thompson (D-CA) John B. Larson (D-CT) Earl Blumenauer (D-OR) Ron Kind (D-WI) Bill Pascrell, Jr. (D-NJ) Danny K. Davis (D-IL) Linda T. Sánchez (D-CA) Brian Higgins (D-NY) Terri A. Sewell (D-AL) Suzan DelBene (D-WA) Judy Chu (D-CA) Gwen Moore (D-WI) Dan Kildee (D-MI) Brendan Boyle (D-PA) Don Beyer (D-VA) Dwight Evans (D-PA) Brad Schneider (D-IL) T om Suozzi (D-NY) Jimmy Panetta (D-CA) Stephanie Murphy (D-FL) Jimmy Gomez (D-CA) Steven Horsford (D-NV) Stacey E. Plaskett (D-VI)
Kevin Brady, Ranking Member (R-TX) Devin Nunes (R-CA) Vern Buchanan (R-FL) Adrian Smith (R-NE) Kenny Marchant (R-TX) Tom Reed (R-NY) Mike Kelly (R-PA) George Holding (R-NC) Jason Smith (R-MO) Tom Rice (R-SC) David Schweikert (R-AZ) Jackie Walorski (R-IN) Darin LaHood (R-IL) Brad Wenstrup (R-OH) Jodey Arrington (R-TX) Drew Ferguson (R-GA) Ron Estes (R-KS)
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