$1400 stimulus checks have passed the Congress.  This is great news. 

So what exactly passed? $1,400 stimulus checks for individuals earning up to $75,000 and couples making up to $150,000 qualify for the entire amount. It phases out at $80k for individuals and $160k for couples. While certainly not everything we called for, it will make an important difference for many families that are struggling today.

But, here is what I am noticing: these checks are a part of a larger package, and this overall package is turning heads. It is successfully putting a lot of money in the hands of families and working people in our country. I am reading comments like:

“You have a new consensus in America — that the government has an important role.. For the first time in my lifetime, people are saying that the government has done too little rather than doing too much,” said Former Congressman Barney Frank.

These comments are coming not just because of the $1400 checks. The American Rescue Plan also includes an updated and enlarged Child Tax Credit of up to $300 a month per child for a year (starting in July). This means families will get recurring cash each month if they have kids.

And as I updated you before, some of the most powerful Senators have started a movement to call for recurring checks that wouldn’t stop until the economy is stronger and the pandemic is over. 

In my neighborhood, my state, and my country, I see that COVID-19 is changing how we look at solutions, ignoring what was done before and asking unlikely partners what is possible.  It seems to me that our government is seeing the power of delivering directly to the people and the impact actual cash can have on our daily lives. 

Thanks for all you are doing — because this movement of 2 million people is making a difference.

Stephanie