U.S. President Trump signed on Sunday the COVID-19 relief package that will boost unemployment benefits and avert a government shutdown. He also continued to push for $2,000 stimulus checks instead of the $600 checks in the bill.
Trump signed the COVID-19 relief bill and the government-funding measure, according to the Associated Press Source. News of Trump's approval of the package came after the president said that "good news" was coming to the bill.
Trump tweeted Sunday evening: “Good news on Covid Relief Bill.
Information to follow!”
Good news on Covid Relief Bill. Information to follow!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 27, 2020
In a statement, Trump said he’s signing the bill to restore unemployment benefits, stop evictions, provide rental assistance, add money for the Payment Protection Program for small businesses, get airline workers back to work, add money for vaccine distribution, and more.
He added: “As President, I have told Congress that I want far less wasteful spending and more money going to the American people in the form of $2,000 checks per adult and $600 per child.”
Trump went on saying: “On Monday the House will vote to increase payments to inpiduals from $600 to $2,000,” he added. “Therefore, a family of four would receive $5,200.”
Legislators have been pressing Trump to sign the bill as jobless benefits expired and as the federal government faces a shutdown deadline of 12:01 a.m. Tuesday.
Last week, Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said the $600 direct payments would start arriving a few days after Christmas, but that timeline is now unlikely. Trump has been sticking to his 11th-hour push for $2,000 stimulus checks.
Lawmakers on Sunday, including Republican Sen. Pat Toomey, urged Trump to sign the bill.
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