Early Wednesday morning, the White House and Senate leaders for Democrats and Republicans said they have reached agreement on a $2 trillion emergency stimulus package for the country.
Aid will go to businesses, workers and the health care system beset with difficulties by the coronavirus pandemic. In Bladen County, there have been no positive cases thus far.
Left to be done are finalizations in “detailed legislative language,” the Associated Press reported.
Here’s what it means in Bladen County:
• One-time payments of $1,200 per adult and $500 per child. When those payments will be made is unclear; during negotiations, there was discussion to do this in two parts, one in April and one in May. There was also discussion of a cap, meaning those making a certain amount — millionaires, for example — would not be included. Those details were yet to be released early Wednesday morning.
• Furloughed workers are to get whatever amount North Carolina usually provides for unemployment, plus a $600 per week add-on, with gig workers like Uber drivers covered for the first time.
• Unemployment benefits are expanded.
• There’s money for small businesses to keep making payroll while workers are forced to stay home. How the $367 billion is distributed nationwide and what businesses need to do in order to participate was not clear. More information is expected to come.
• Bladen County Hospital, a part of the Cape Fear Valley Health System, and all hospitals are slated to get significant help. It’s too early to know exact dollar figures to each hospital, or health care system.
• Businesses get an “employee retention” tax credit that’s estimated to provide $50 billion, nationwide, to companies that retain employees on payroll and cover 50 percent of workers’ paychecks. Companies would also be able to defer payment of the 6.2 percent Social Security payroll tax.
The coronavirus has killed more than 800 in the United States. There more than 55,000 people with confirmed cases. Worldwide, there are 425,000 cases and 19,000 have died.
Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin (left) accompanied by White House Legislative Affairs Director Eric Ueland and acting White House chief of staff Mark Meadows, walks to the offices of Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell on Capitol Hill on Tuesday. Just after midnight, leaders said they have a deal.