The U.S. House on Friday signed off on a $2 trillion relief package meant to provide emergency assistance to individuals, businesses and states coping with the coronavirus outbreak.
The bill, which cleared the Senate on Wednesday, passed the House by voice vote and was signed by President Donald Trump later Friday.
House leaders had hoped to approve the legislation without calling many members back to the Capitol. But after Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) threatened to derail the proceedings if a quorum was not present, many lawmakers scrambled to return.
Welch was not among them.
“Peter is trying to respect the [Centers for Disease Control and Prevention] public health guidelines prohibiting large gatherings, so he will not be traveling to DC unless a roll call vote is called and he is needed by leadership to pass the bill,” spokesperson Lincoln Peek wrote in an email Friday morning. “Peter strongly supports the bill and expects it to pass by voice vote today.”
In the end, Massie’s attempt to demand a roll-call vote failed, and the legislation passed by voice vote.
In a written statement, Welch celebrated its passage.
“This bill will quickly provide much needed assistance to families who are struggling to make ends meet, small businesses trying to figure out how to keep the lights on, and our medical providers who are caring for our loved ones and neighbors,” he said. “We have more work to do to pull us out of this unprecedented crisis, but this bill is an important step to help us get there. Vermonters know that we are all in this together.”
The relief package — the third passed by Congress in recent weeks — would provide direct payments of $1,200 to individuals making up to $75,000 a year, plus $500 per child. It increases the amount of money those on unemployment receive and the length of time they receive the benefit, and it expands eligibility to self-employed workers and independent contractors.
The legislation also provides hundreds of billions of dollars to businesses and hospitals.
Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), who along with Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) backed the deal, said Wednesday that it would direct $2 billion in funding to Vermont.
Disclosure: Paul Heintz worked as Peter Welch’s communications director from November 2008 to March 2011.
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there’s more money in
the stocks he’s buying
than in the checks hes giving out.
Theodore Lewis: There’s no relationship whatsoever between the stocks Welch buys and the checks he’s giving out. Among many other differences, he buys stocks with HIS money; the checks being given out are underwritten by YOURS and mine.
The big question: does Welch have inside information on stock?
Welch isn’t giving out anything. You can bet the farm that he has inside information on what to buy and sell. Democrats and RINOS have made killings in the stock market these past few weeks and you’re a fool if you think they haven’t.
Congress held up this relief package for a wk, because it didn’t contain her pet projects. She put in that Congress gets pay raises. That has nothing to do with the American citizens or the virus. Look it up what the democrats put into the relief pkg. It’s a disgrace !!! The same goes for the Vt Legislation. They also are a DISGRACE.
Donna Boutin: Do you really believe that only Democrats and RINOS are making money in the stock market on insider information? If so, you need to read more newspapers: at least 2 Republican senators made millions selling stock before the virus hit (Loeffler of GA and Burr of NC). Greed is not limited to any political party.
John Greenberg: do you think that all legislators do it, therefore I’ll do it, it’s okay. Sorry it is against the law and punishable with fines and prison. Unless you are Martha Stewart.
JohnGreenberg , RINOS are Republicans. Senators, Congressmen, and Governors and Lt Governors especially here in Vt. Look how much they made off of EB-5.