US House votes for an increase in Stimulus Checks to $2,000

The House of Representatives voted on December 28 to amend the COVID-10 relief bill and boost direct payments to Americans of up to $2,000 from the original $600.

Payments for adults and children will be raised from $600 to $2,000 and people with an income of up to $75,000, married couples with an income up to $150,000 will be eligible for the full amount from the bill.

College students, elderly or disabled adults are eligible for both the $2,000 payments and the $500 payments authorised by the March CARES Act.

The bill (CASH Act) required a two-thirds majority to pass. Results passed the Democratic-majority House with a 275-134 vote. The Republican majority Senate will heed to consider the majority differences.

Senate Democratic Leader Charles Schumer confirmed on Monday that he would attempt to pass the bill on Tuesday. President Donald J. Trump used the Impoundment Control Act of 1974 to increase stimulus payments to $2,000 and stop ‘wasteful spending' from the relief bill.

The Impoundment Control Act of 1974 allows the president to make demands to Congress, although Congress ultimately decides whether they will accept his demands and any rescissions and vote on them.

The Impoundment Control Act of 1974 provides specific procedures that the President can use to delay or eliminate certain funding in an account. 

“I will sign the Omnibus and Covid package with a strong message that makes clear to Congress that wasteful items need to be removed. I will send back to Congress a redlined version, item by item, accompanied by the formal rescission request to Congress insisting that those funds be removed from the bill,” Trump said in the White House statement.

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