What's in Democrats' coronavirus relief bill


House Democrats on Friday unveiled the final version of their $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief bill.
In the past few weeks, Democrat-led House committees have been workshopping their priorities for the first relief bill of the Biden administration. The House Budget Committee has since combined the provisions into one massive bill, dubbed the American Rescue Plan of 2021. It contains many measures Democrats have been talking about for weeks, including:
- $1,400 stimulus checks for any adult making $75,000 or less per year
- A framework to gradually raise the minimum wage to $15/hour, and hike it from $7.25 to $9.50 as soon as the bill is passed
- Extending a $400/week unemployment boost through Aug. 29
- $10 billion in funding for small businesses
- A $3,000 Child Tax Credit — $3,600 for children under six
- $219 billion for states, territories, and tribal governments to patch budget shortfalls during the pandemic
- $6 billion for indigenous health care
The committee will take a vote on the bill Monday, and it's expected to face the whole House next week. Because Democrats raised the relief bill as part of a Budget Reconciliation, they'll only need a simple majority in the House and Senate to pass it. Still, Sen. Kirsten Synema (D-Ariz.) remains a possible holdup for the bill over her opposition to the minimum wage hike.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Kathryn is a graduate of Syracuse University, with degrees in magazine journalism and information technology, along with hours to earn another degree after working at SU's independent paper The Daily Orange. She's currently recovering from a horse addiction while living in New York City, and likes to share her extremely dry sense of humor on Twitter.
-
Nashville dining: Far more than barbecue and hot chicken
Feature A modern approach to fine-dining, a daily-changing menu, and more
-
Music Reviews: Coco Jones and Viagra Boys
Feature "Why Not More?" and "Viagr Aboys"
-
Visa wants to let AI make credit card purchases for you
The Explainer The program will allow you to set a budget and let AI learn from your shopping preferences
-
Warren Buffet announces surprise retirement
speed read At the annual meeting of Berkshire Hathaway, the billionaire investor named Vice Chairman Greg Abel his replacement
-
Trump calls Amazon's Bezos over tariff display
Speed Read The president was not happy with reports that Amazon would list the added cost from tariffs alongside product prices
-
Markets notch worst quarter in years as new tariffs loom
Speed Read The S&P 500 is on track for its worst month since 2022 as investors brace for Trump's tariffs
-
Tesla Cybertrucks recalled over dislodging panels
Speed Read Almost every Cybertruck in the US has been recalled over a stainless steel panel that could fall off
-
Crafting emporium Joann is going out of business
Speed Read The 82-year-old fabric and crafts store will be closing all 800 of its stores
-
Trump's China tariffs start after Canada, Mexico pauses
Speed Read The president paused his tariffs on America's closest neighbors after speaking to their leaders, but his import tax on Chinese goods has taken effect
-
Chinese AI chatbot's rise slams US tech stocks
Speed Read The sudden popularity of a new AI chatbot from Chinese startup DeepSeek has sent U.S. tech stocks tumbling
-
US port strike averted with tentative labor deal
Speed Read The strike could have shut down major ports from Texas to Maine