Coronavirus Relief Bill: What CA Residents Need To Know

CALIFORNIA — The third round of federal stimulus checks could soon be en route to Californians now that the U.S. House of Representatives passed a final version of the $1.9 trillion coronavirus relief package on Wednesday.

After much deliberation, Senate Democrats passed the American Rescue Plan, aimed at providing aid for low-income Americans, small businesses, schools, vaccines and local governments. The goal was to deliver the bill to President Joe Biden by Sunday — the day emergency jobless benefits expire for more than 10 million Americans. Biden is expected to sign the bill Friday.

House Republicans were unanimous in opposing the bill. All California Republican representatives voted against the final measure.

Only Rep. Jared Golden, a Maine Democrat, broke with his party to vote against the bill.

"More help is on the way," Gov. Gavin Newsom, a Democrat, tweeted moments after the plan passed.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-San Francisco) said it was one of the most important measures she has worked on in her legislative tenure.

"This is the most consequential legislation that many of us will ever be ... party to," Pelosi said at a news conference on Wednesday. "Who knows what the future may bring? But nonetheless, on this day we celebrate because we are honoring a promise made by our president. ... Help is on the way."

SEE ALSO: How To Get The Coronavirus Vaccine In California

Golden State And New Federal Stimulus Checks

The measure will notably provide the much-anticipated $1,400 payments to individuals who meet certain income criteria.

The maximum amount for the third round of stimulus checks will be $1,400 for any eligible individual or $2,800 per eligible couple filing taxes jointly. Each eligible dependent — including adult dependents — will also qualify for a payment of $1,400. That means a family of four could receive as much as $5,600 in total.

Checks of up to $1,400 will go to individuals making $80,000 or less, single parents earning up to $120,000 and couples with household income of less than $160,000.

Checks sent to direct deposit accounts could start going out the week of March 17, according to CNET. Paper checks could start being mailed the following week.

Additionally, some 5.7 million Golden State residents who qualify could receive a $600 state stimulus payment after filing their tax returns this year. The checks are part of a coronavirus relief package approved by the Legislature in late February.

The so-called "Golden State Stimulus" checks are part of a $7.6 billion coronavirus aid package that includes more than $2.1 billion in grants and fee waivers for small businesses and another $2 billion in tax breaks for businesses.

Some who will not qualify to receive the federal stimulus check may have access to a Golden State Stimulus payment

"Regardless of your status, those who have been left behind in that federal stimulus, California is not going to leave you behind," Newsom said last month.

Child Tax Credit

One big federal benefit that could help families around the country is a boost in the child tax credit.

The credit, which is now at a maximum of $2,000, is being raised to as much as $3,600 per child under 6 and $3,000 per child between 6 and 16 for 2021. It will be paid out in monthly installments starting in July and will include more low-income households.

The expanded credit begins to phase out for individuals earning $75,000 a year or couples making $150,000 a year.

More Federal Aid

In addition to direct payments, the legislation would provide hundreds of billions of dollars for schools and colleges, coronavirus vaccines and testing, mass transit systems, renters and small businesses.

It also has money for child care and assistance for states willing to expand Medicaid coverage for low-income residents.

Federal unemployment payments of $300 per week will be extended through Sept. 6.

An increase in the minimum wage was not a part of the House bill that just passed.

Patch staffer Michael Woyton contributed to this report.