New Bedford Guide Your Guide to New Bedford and South Coast, MA
Matt Murphy
State House News Service
U.S. Sen. Edward Markey was one of a trio of senators to propose an expansive new round of stimulus checks for Americans that would send as much as $10,000 a month to a qualifying family of five.
Markey joined with California Sen. Kamala Harris and Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders last Friday to file the Monthly Economic Crisis Support Act, which would send a monthly check of $2,000 to all residents who earn $100,000 or less. The payments would be retroactive to March, and last through the emergency, plus an additional three months. Couples filing jointly could receive $4,000 a month, plus an additional $2,000 for up to three dependent children.
“A single check is not sufficient for households that are struggling during this health and economic crisis. Americans need more than just one payment. I am proud to join Senators Sanders and Harris in calling for recurring direct cash assistance so that Americans have the reassurance that this critical support will continue and that their government will support them,” Markey said.
Republican leaders in the Senate have suggested a pause of coronavirus relief spending for now, but House Democrats are eyeing a fourth relief package that last week U.S. Rep. Richard Neal said he envisioned would include another round of checks, in line with the CARES Act. The CARES Act made one-time checks of $1,200 available to people earning up to $75,000, and carried a total price tag of an estimated $250 billion.
While it was unclear how many Massachusetts families might qualify, the program would provide roughly $600 billion in benefits each month, according to Markey’s office.
