House to vote on $2,000 checks in the COVID-19 relief package

The House plans to vote Monday on a measure to increase direct payment checks for Americans from $600 to $2,000 in the COVID-19 relief package that President Donald Trump signed on Sunday. The $900 billion package provides up to $600 in direct stimulus checks to millions of Americans and extends unemployment benefits, as well as a program intended to help small businesses retain their employees during the pandemic. The president had previously called the bipartisan bill a “disgrace” and said he wanted it to include $2,000 direct payments rather than $600. But after a growing number of Republicans pushed back on Trump’s reticence – and Democrats quickly embraced Trump’s idea of larger direct payments – Trump relented and signed. Democrats intend to bring stand-alone legislation to increase checks to $2,000 to a vote on the House floor Monday.