Members of the United States Congress have proposed a new stimulus check to provide support to citizens who did not qualify for the previous stimulus payment.
The proposed bill is called the Emergency Money for the People Act. The proposal was introduced by Democrat representatives Ro Khanna and Tim Ryan.
The bill would provide $2,000 every month to everyone who qualifies and is over the age of 16. The payments might continue for up to 12 months, or until employment levels revert back to an amount prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. This bill would include significant groups neglected from the CARES Act, which was the previous bill that gave $1,200 to qualifying citizens. High school and college students over 18 were not eligible if they were filed as dependent on taxes. Adults with disabilities who filed as a dependent were also not able to receive the previous stimulus check.
To be eligible for the Emergency Money for the People Act stimulus check, one must be over 16 and make less than $130,000 annually. Those unemployed or with no earnings would be eligible even if they did not file a tax return.
Married couples who have a combined income of less than $260,000 would receive at least $4,000 every month. Certain families with children who qualify would additionally receive $500 per child. Three children is the maximum for the additional $500.
The new stimulus payment would have more options for the distribution of funds to those qualifying. Those without a bank or home address could receive the payment through various mobile services, such as Venmo or PayPal, while direct deposit, a check or a prepaid debit card would still be offered as options.
Sophomore Sam King was one student who did not receive the previous stimulus check. She said the new stimulus payment would be helpful, as she would put the money toward college tuition or apartment rent for the fall semester.
King said she felt it was unfair for college students to not receive the first stimulus check. She said college students still have expenses to pay for, and it would have helped them pay for those. She explained many college students no longer have jobs because of campus jobs closing, so the check would have provided stability to those students.
King said the payment would help both her and her mother.
“Getting a check would give me the ability to pay for some tuition myself and take a little weight off of both of our shoulders,” King said.