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Washington — President Biden will sign the American Rescue Plan Act into law on Thursday afternoon, one day earlier than expected, as the administration prepares to implement the $1.9 trillion coronavirus relief measure that Congress passed this week.
The bill was narrowly approved by the House on Wednesday with a vote of 220 to 211, with one Democrat joining all Republicans in voting against it. It passed the Senate on Saturday with a 50 to 49 vote, also along party lines.
Mr. Biden will sign the bill hours before delivering his first prime-time national address to mark the one-year anniversary of the COVID-19 pandemic, which has since taken more than 529,000 American lives. He also plans to begin traveling around the country to tout the relief bill in the coming weeks, the White House said Wednesday.
New CBS News polling shows that the bill is widely popular with the public, with three in four Americans approving of its passage. Two-thirds of Americans also say Mr. Biden is doing a good job in his handling of the pandemic.
How to watch Biden sign the American Rescue PlanWhat: President Biden signs the American Rescue PlanDate: Thursday, March 11, 2021Time: 1:30 p.m. ETLocation: The White House, Washington, D.C.Online stream: Live on CBSN in the player above or on your mobile or streaming device
The American Rescue Plan provides $1,400 direct payments to individuals making up to $75,000 annually, $350 billion in aid to state and local governments and $14 billion for vaccine distribution. The bill also provides $130 billion to elementary, middle and high schools to assist with safe reopening.
It includes an additional $300 billion in weekly jobless benefits through September and an expanded tax credit of up to $3,600 per child, initially distributed in monthly installments. The child tax credit could raise 4 million children out of poverty, according to an analysis by the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities.
More than $50 billion will be distributed to small businesses, including $7 billion for the Paycheck Protection Program. The bill also provides $25 billion for relief for small and mid-sized restaurants, which have suffered significantly during the pandemic.
The measure expands eligibility for subsidies to purchase health insurance to people of all incomes under the Affordable Care Act (ACA), a provision that was particularly controversial for Republicans who oppose the bill. It also incentivizes states to expand Medicaid under the ACA by having the federal government pay for new recipients. Several million people could save hundreds of dollars in health care costs once the bill becomes law.
The White House has said that many Americans will start receiving their stimulus checks by the end of the month.