President Biden signs historic $1.9 trillion Covid-19 relief bill

President Biden signed a sweeping $1.9 trillion coronavirus relief package into law on Thursday, delivering a massive amount of much-needed federal aid for working families, essential workers and individuals who have been impacted by the financial devastation the pandemic has caused. 

“This legislation is about giving the backbone of this nation — the essential workers, the working people who built this country, the people who keep this country going — a fighting chance,” Biden said in a statement Wednesday. 

The bill will direct aid in the form of stimulus checks, extended unemployment benefits, an expanded child tax credit and more. Beyond direct aid, the legislation also features expanded child tax credit, billions of dollars to schools and to the distribution of COVID-19 vaccines, testing and supplies.

In North Carolina, the expanded child tax credit measure could lift 137,000 North Carolina children out of poverty, while a provision to incentivize states like North Carolina to expand Medicaid could help expand healthcare coverage to over 682,000 North Carolinians. 

Despite a majority of Americans across party lines supporting the relief package, Republicans — including all 8 North Carolina House Republicans — voted against the much-needed relief for North Carolinians.

Throughout the pandemic, Republicans refused to prevent and provide real relief for this pandemic – leaving millions of us grieving loved ones and struggling to make ends meet, while they spread lies about our election in a desperate attempt to hold onto power they do not deserve. 

Now that Democrats are leading, they are delivering the vaccines, jobs, and financial support our families need.

Bottom Line: Let’s be clear: When families, communities and small businesses desperately needed financial relief during a public health crisis, all Republicans voted against helping the people. 

Our communities’ COVID-19 and economic recovery will not be due to Republicans efforts, but in response to Democrats and the Biden-Harris administration putting the people first above their own interests.