More than 80 congressmen support fourth stimulus check

A group of Democratic representatives sends a letter to President Biden to endorse aid similar to the $ 1, 400 US Rescue Plan dollars

Photo: Oliver Contreras / Getty Images

Although more than 80 congressmen support sending a fourth check – and some even a fifth – there is no concrete bill in Congress to approve a Additional payment direct to Americans .

The problem for Democrats looking to send more aid, because the issue is not a priority for Congressional leaders, Nancy Pelosi (California), Speaker of the House of Representatives, and Chuck Schumer (New York), Senate Majority Leader.

Both Democratic leaders are focused on the president’s economic project for infrastructure, jobs and families Joe Biden , plus the increase of taxes to the richest, as well as the possibility of approve immigration reform under the Reconciliation rule.

The 17 May, a group of seven members of the House Ways and Means Committee, but without the endorsement of the president, Richard Neal (Massachusetts), sent a letter to President Biden to endorse a fourth stimulus check.

The proposal is driven by the representative Jimmy Gomez and it exposes the urgency of extending the unemployment insurance bonus, which ends in September, as well as endorsing a fourth and fifth c heques of encouragement, under the argument that it will help to lift out of poverty to 28 millions of people.

“Checks for $ 1, 400 of the ARP will maintain 11 millions of people out of poverty this year, and the expansion of the UI (unemployment bonus) and other provisions in the bill will represent the other five million ”, defends the letter. “A fourth and fifth checks could keep others 12 millions out of poverty ”.

According to representatives’ analyzes, combined with the effects of the American Rescue Plan (ARP), direct payments could reduce the number of people living in poverty by 2021 from 44 million to 16 millions.

# StimulusChecks and federal unemployment have been a lifeline to millions during # COVID 19 .

I led my @ WaysMeansCmte colleagues in asking @ POTUS to include recurring direct payments and automatic # UI in the # AmericanFamiliesPlan . https://t.co/uFPe0lNioM

– Rep. Jimmy Gomez (@RepJimmyGomez) May 21, 2021

The letter from this new group of representatives is in addition to letters sent in April to President Biden, both from the House and the Senate.

The debate on a possible payment similar to $ 1, 400 dollars awarded by the ARP has been held since March, but the White House has resisted supporting a plan, including spokesperson Jen Psaki said in April , that that would depend on the congressmen, but he warned that those stimulus checks “are not free.”

Economists and financial analysts now believe that economic plans should focus on rebooting different industries, as Biden tries with his American Jobs Plan, which reduced to $ 1.7 billion dollars , in order to integrate to the Republicans.

“I think it’s unlikely at this point,” Ed Mills analyst Raymond James told CNBC of a fourth stimulus check.

A debate on other direct aid to Americans is complicated by the distribution on July of the Child Tax Credit , which will give families $ 250 or $ 300 dollars per month retail, depending on ages.