The Trump administration is hoping to send out cash to everyday Americans within the next two weeks as part of a comprehensive package aimed at providing relief for families and the economy during the coronavirus crisis.
“We’re looking at sending checks to Americans immediately,” Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said at a White House press conference Tuesday.
“And what we’ve heard from many Americans, many companies have now shut down, whether it’s bars or restaurants, Americans need cash now and the President wants to get cash now,” Mnuchin continued. “And I mean now in the next two weeks.”
The exact amount of cash in the checks has yet to be determined, but Mnuchin said the number “might be bigger than what’s in the press.”
When asked if there would income restrictions for the checks, Mnuchin said, “Obviously we don’t need to send people who make a million dollars a year checks.”
The full video can be seen below.
National File reported last week on Hawaiian congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard’s proposal for emergency direct aid cash packages for every American:
“We’re still here in Washington where negotiations are continuing around a direct aid package for everyday Americans across the country,” Gabbard told viewers in a video posted to Twitter.
“The concerns and the impact around this global coronavirus pandemic are growing,” Gabbard continued. “Too much of attention has been focused here in Washington on bailing out Wall Street banks and corporate industries as people are making the same old tired argument of how trickle-down economics will eventually help the American people.”
The congresswoman pointed out that as the government focuses on stabilizing the financial markets, it’s the American taxpayer “that gets left holding the bag, struggling and getting no help during a time of crisis.”
“This is wrong,” Gabbard stated, adding, “Now is the time for action to provide direct assistance and emergency relief to every single American through a universal basic payment of $1,000 a month to every American for the duration of this crisis.”
Gabbard’s proposal may have served as the impetus for the measures currently being weight by the Trump administration.
