CORONAVIRUS

What all is in the next stimulus bill set to pass the House?

WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden’s $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief package is expected to pass in the Democratic-controlled House this week. It’s unlikely to be the final version of the legislation; the evenly split Senate still has to act. But here’s a look at where things stand.

Will I get a relief check?

It depends on how much money you make. Individuals earning under $75,000 per year and married couples earning less than $150,000 would receive the maximum available, which is $1,400 per household member.

The amount phases out the more money you make, and no individual earning more than $100,000 or couple earning more than $200,000 would receive money. The Senate may lower those income thresholds to reduce the package’s cost.

There are tweaks to previous eligibility requirements. Previously, only children listed as dependents on a federal tax return could receive a payment. Now all adult dependents, such as college students, can be counted as a household member and receive money.

What happened to the $2,000 checks?

Congress approved $600 payments in December, so the $1,400 is intended to bring the total to $2,000 per person.

I lost my job. What do I get?

The federal government would boost weekly unemployment compensation by $400, up from the current $300 but lower than the $600 increase available at the beginning of the pandemic.

Unemployed people also would be able to receive financial support for a longer time. Freelancers and gig workers could get help from the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance program for 74 weeks, while other out-of-work individuals who participate in traditional state unemployment programs could get 48 weeks of payments.

The increased benefits would be available until Aug. 29.

What if my family needs more help?

The House legislation would pump additional money into federal, state and local programs to assist struggling families with housing, food and health care costs.

For example, the 15 percent increase in food stamp benefits would be extended through September rather than expire in June. More than $19 billion would be provided for help paying rent and utility bills, and $10 billion for aid with mortgages and property taxes.

The child tax credit would increase to $3,000, or $3,600 for a child under 6 years old. If you receive health care through the Affordable Care Act, subsidies would cover more of the cost.

How about schools?

The measure doesn’t require schools to reopen, but it does provide money to make it safer for them to do so. Roughly $130 billion is proposed for schools to buy equipment, upgrade facilities and hire more staff. Schools would be required to use some of the money to help students catch up, with programs such as summer classes.

Republicans have been critical of the proposed sum for schools because the money would be available through much of 2023, suggesting it’s not targeted at getting children back into classrooms. Democrats say schools need the longerterm support to address budget shortfalls and other lingering challenges from the pandemic.

What will this do for small businesses?

The legislation would fund a variety of programs to help businesses. Small businesses could apply for some of the $15 billion for low-interest federal loans, and a new $25 billion program would prop up struggling restaurants. Another $7 billion would be injected into the Paycheck Protection Program, which was formed last year to help prevent layoffs.

Will it help state and local budgets?

The House package includes Biden’s proposed $350 billion for cities, states, territories and tribal governments. Most of the money would go to states. This provision may well not survive, at least not the full amount; Republicans are opposed and some Democrats note that several states are projecting budget surpluses.

Will it help fight the virus?

The measure would fund a variety of actions to combat the pandemic. There’s $46 billion to expand testing and contact tracing, $7.5 billion for distributing vaccines, $5.2 billion for vaccine development and $500 million to track how vaccines work on new COVID-19 variants.

Will the minimum wage be raised?

The legislation would mandate a phased-in increase in the federal minimum wage to $15, from the current $7.25 an hour, by 2025. But the Senate is expected to jettison the provision or reduce the amount, to perhaps $11.

What other changes could there be?

It’s unclear, but some alterations are all but certain. Once the House acts, the legislation goes to the Senate, where it will have a rougher time. The Senate is split evenly between the parties, and Republicans will provide few, if any, votes.

Democrats plan to pass it through a legislative process known as reconciliation, which allows budget-related legislation to be passed with a simple majority vote, without the threat of a filibuster.