Proposed bill would give Americans $2,000 a month until pandemic crisis ends

A proposed bill would expand relief for hard-working Americans who are financially impacted by the coronavirus. The Emergency Money for the People Act would give Americans $2,000 a month until the coronavirus crisis ends.

Qualifying Americans over the age of 16 would receive $2,000 a month, according to House Democrats Tim Ryan and Ro Khanna who introduced the bill.

The bill allows individuals who don’t have checking accounts to receive money via check, pre-paid debit card, or mobile money platforms such as Venmo, Zelle, or PayPal.

“A one-time, twelve hundred dollar check isn’t going to cut it,” said Rep. Ro Khanna. “Americans need sustained cash infusions for the duration of this crisis in order to come out on the other side alive, healthy, and ready to get back to work.”

Under the Emergency Money for the People Act, monthly $2,000 payments would be guaranteed for at least 6 months and would continue until more than 60% of the population returns to work.

The payments would not count as income and would not be taxed. Hard-working Americans who earned more than $130,000 in 2019 but are currently unemployed would be left out.

Eligibility:

Every American adult age 16 and older earning less than $130,000 annually.

Married couples earning less than $260,000 a year would receive $4,00 a month.

Qualifying families with children will receive an additional $500 per child for up to three children.