President Trump has signed into law a package that combines COVID-19 economic relief measures and federal spending for the next nine months, after threatening to veto it over what he called the puny size of stimulus checks.
Trump signed the bill, passed by the House and Senate on Dec. 21, as several provisions aimed at struggling Americans were about to expire or were already over. His move Sunday averts a federal government shutdown, with funds set to expire at midnight Monday.
Since Trump did not immediately sign the bill, as many as 14 million jobless Americans saw unemployment benefits temporarily cut off after they ended Sunday morning. That will now be restored, though in some cases, it could mean a loss of a week’s benefits.
And an eviction moratorium set to expire at the end of the year would have meant, if not extended, an deeply uncertain future for many renters come Jan. 1.
After largely staying on the sidelines during negotiations, Trump had been expected to sign the massive bill, which combines a $1.4 trillion fiscal year 2021 spending bill with roughly $900 billion in new federal aid to help the nation cope with the coronavirus pandemic. Lawmakers attached other provisions that needed to pass by the end of the session, including a $10 billion water infrastructure bill and an intelligence reauthorization measure.
But Trump in recent days suggested he was reconsidering, saying the $600 stimulus checks allotted for individuals making $75,000 or less should be $2,000. And Trump blasted various foreign aid provisions in the bill.
While government funding was a must-pass bill, the COVID-19 aid measure was central to the agreement.
The bill followed months of stalled talks on coronavirus aid that were jolted toward the finish line by a bipartisan group of dozens of House and Senate lawmakers who grew tired of gridlock at the leadership level.
The measure includes a new round of stimulus checks that would provide $600 to individuals, enhanced federal jobless pay at about $300 per week, loans for small businesses, and billions for schools, healthcare facilities, and day cares. The bill provides $25 billion for rental assistance and temporarily increases food stamp benefits by 15%.
The law also includes fully funding of the federal government through Sept. 30, 2021, the end of the fiscal year.
On Sunday night, after signing the bill into law, Trump said in a statement he would push for Congress to rescind some of the spending he didn’t like.
“I will sign the Omnibus and Covid package with a strong message that makes clear to Congress that wasteful items need to be removed,” Trump said. “I will send back to Congress a redlined version, item by item, accompanied by the formal rescission request.”
However, with the House in Democratic control, it’s highly unlikely spending provisions will be reversed.
Political pressure had been building on Trump to sign the bill. President-elect Joe Biden called on Saturday called on Trump to sign the package.
“It is the day after Christmas, and millions of families don’t know if they’ll be able to make ends meet because of President Donald Trump’s refusal to sign an economic relief bill approved by Congress with an overwhelming and bipartisan majority,” Biden said in a statement.
