Stimulus Package

President-elect Joe Biden and congressional Democrats have suggested the recently passed stimulus is only a stepping stone meant to act as a "down payment," but Republicans don't see it that way.

Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and his aides have repeatedly claimed that Senate Republicans for months have backed a measure "right in the ballpark" of the $900 billion stimulus Congress approved. But is that true?

While Congress voted on Monday to approve the bill, Democrats and Republicans failed to reach agreements on a number of aspects.

Mitch McConnell said the Senate could return after Christmas to block any veto attempt by the president.

"We do need a stimulus bill. There's no question about it," Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick said.

Republican Senator Josh Hawley is among the lawmakers who have said the direct payments agreed by Congress are not high enough.

Polling has shown there was support for payments to be higher than the amount agreed, with public opinion suggesting the $600 figure is too little.

Republicans and Democrats both complained that they didn't have time to scrutinize the $900 billion package.

The Vermont senator has said he will call for more relief when Joe Biden enters the White House and the Senate is back in session next month.

Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle took issue with the time they had to read the 5,593-page relief package.

"This bill is a representation of the screwed-up priorities of Washington," Hawaii Representative Tulsi Gabbard said Monday.

The relief package, the second largest in history behind the $2 trillion CARES Act, received overwhelming bipartisan support, easily clearing both chambers of Congress.

With the passage of the economic stimulus package, the legislation will go to the U.S. Senate where lawmakers are expected to vote on it late Monday.

Some of the programs and grants funded as part of the new coronavirus relief package aim to address problems exacerbated by the pandemic.

Lawmakers corrected an unintended consequence from the CARES Act that excluded Americans in mixed-status families from being eligible for stimulus payments.

"Members of Congress need to see & read the bills we are expected to vote on," Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez tweeted.

The legislation calls out China's "interference" in the succession process for the leader of Tibetan Buddhism.

Democrats were pushing for $1,200 direct payments in the new legislation but met resistance from Republicans, the House speaker said.

The Pennsylvania senator is writing policy that benefits the financial institutions that have backed him—and might provide his next job.

The Internal Revenue Service calls direct deposit "the safest and fastest way to receive a payment including a tax refund."

The Democrat challenger has previously criticized incumbent Republican Sen. David Perdue (R-GA) over the delay in a relief package being signed off.

Lawmakers on Sunday finally sealed a deal on a COVID-19 economic relief package that will deliver a financial lifeline to Americans struggling during the pandemic.

The new relief agreement comes nearly nine months after the last package, the CARES Act, was signed.

The treasury secretary said he wanted direct payments to be deposited at the start of next week.

Moody's Analytics forecasts millions of Americans could face $5,850 of rent and utility arrears in the new year.

After a prolonged stalemate over further relief action ended with a bipartisan agreement, some lawmakers have already voiced their desire for further action to be taken.

The second round of stimulus checks will see qualifying Americans receive $600 sometime early next year.

The $600 stimulus checks have been deemed an "insult" and a "joke" by critics on Twitter.

The second stimulus check is worth half the amount of the first check that was paid to qualifying Americans earlier this year.

The stimulus package agreed by Congressional leaders includes a second round of direct payments. Here's what we know so far.