By Blake Haas
BLOOMINGTON – Central Illinois Congressman Rodney Davis is calling on Congress to spend money left over from the first COVID-19 relief packages before Congress approves President Joe Biden’s proposed $1.9 trillion stimulus package.
Speaking with WJBC’s Scott Miller, Congressman Davis said that Congress had approved five different COVID-19 bills equaling over $2 trillion in relief over the last year. However, there is still money left over for targeted spending.
“We just passed a $900 billion package in a very bipartisan way in December. We have $228 billion still sitting in an account waiting for our mom and pop shops to apply for those dollars if they need them. We still have over $50 billion waiting to be dispersed to our educational institutions like the university, community colleges, and schools around Bloomington-Normal. So, we can’t just automatically go to the tax payer’s and say ‘we have to spend two trillion more,’ and that’s exactly what the Democrats are trying to do.”
Under President Biden’s $1.9 trillion proposed stimulus package, Americans could receive a $1,400 stimulus check under an income threshold, while Republicans push for stimulus checks of around $1,000.
“Let’s make sure we get help to those who need help. And let’s make sure that we identify where our needs are. That’s is not what we’re being allowed to do. I’m out here today (in Washington D.C.) because the stimulus package is being debated in two of my committees, and I’m going to try and make sure that these priorities, the American taxpayer priority’s, are put first.”
On Sunday, Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen told CNN that the United States could see full employment next year if Congress approved President Biden’s proposed plan.
Blake Haas can be reached at [email protected].
