- President-elect Joe Biden is promising that another round of stimulus would be a priority after he takes office on Jan. 20
- Aid would be concentrated on vaccine distribution, supporting schools and businesses, and unemployment assistance
- Biden promises a new round of stimulus checks, but says the amount would be determined by negotiation
While he said he does not expect to present a full plan until early next year, President-elect Joe Biden recently unveiled some components of an economic stimulus agenda he plans to pursue after he takes office on Jan. 20.
Biden has promised that the focus of new relief would be on the distribution of COVID-19 vaccines, helping businesses stay open, and assisting those who have lost their job due to the pandemic. He is also planning aid for reopening schools, another round of stimulus checks with the amount to be determined through negotiation, and funding to support firefighters, police officers, and nurses.
While Biden encouraged Democrats to support a short-term compromise measure to approve COVID-19 relief before he takes office, he has often referred to a $900 billion bipartisan stimulus measure as a “down payment” to be followed by additional expenditures at the start of his term. However, any relief Biden proposes would need to clear a House with a slim Democratic majority and receive at least some Republican support in the Senate, even if Democrats pick up two seats in a Georgia runoff election set for Jan. 5.
The fate of the bipartisan measure is currently up in the air, as President Donald Trump sent it back to Congress for revisions instead of signing the legislation.
