A second round of payments could include millions of Americans who were excluded from the federal aid program.
A recent Census Bureau survey shows that nearly half of U. S. households have taken a painful hit to their pocketbook during the steep recession caused by the coronavirus pandemic, spurring calls for the federal government to offer Americans more direct financial assistance.
While it’s unclear whether Congress will approve a second stimulus check anytime soon, lawmakers are at least considering opening the spigot. The proposed $3 trillion Health and Economic Recovery Omnibus Emergency Solutions, or HEROES, Act would authorize another batch of stimulus payments for most households.
The bill passed the House in May and now awaits debate in the Senate. Adding to the political momentum for more stimulus money, Trump administration officials earlier this month said they are considering a second round of funding.
The first round of stimulus checks, directed by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security, or CARES, Act in March, faced criticism from advocacy groups and taxpayers alike on its exclusion of some Americans.
For instance, the initial round of stimulus payments provided $500 for each child under the age of 17 — that meant millions of high school seniors and juniors who are 17 or older didn’t qualify for the payments. The Trump administration is facing lawsuits over the bill’s exclusion of some immigrants and their American spouses from the payments.
Overall, most Americans would get more money in a second stimulus under the HEROES Act, according to the right-leaning American Enterprise Institute.
