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Courtesy Charlotte Laracy,

Washington, D.C.—Congressman Henry Cuellar (TX-28) voted for the Caring for Americans with Supplemental Help (CASH) Act of 2020 to increase the amount of money struggling Americans receive in a second round of direct payments to $2,000.

“Millions of Americans are struggling to put food on the table, to pay their rent or mortgage, or to keep up with medical bills that they have accumulated over this difficult year,” said Congressman Cuellar. “I voted to pass the CASH Act to put $2,000 into the pockets of Americans in need and help alleviate some of the economic hardship they are currently facing. I urge my colleagues in the Senate to bring this important legislation to the floor before the legislative session ends. As a senior member of the Appropriations Committee, I will continue to fight for the additional support that Americans require as we continue to battle the COVID-19 crisis.”

After the President changed his mind last week and decided to support Democrats’ call for increasing direct payments to $2,000, House Democrats immediately went to the Floor to ask for Unanimous Consent to bring a stand-alone bill to increase the payments. On Christmas Eve, House Republicans blocked the request –depriving the American people of the increased $2,000 check that the President supported.

The CASH Act:

Increases the value of the economic impact payments (EIPs) provided in the end-of-year COVID relief package so that each eligible family member receives $2,000, up from $600.
Applies the same, broader eligibility established in the end-of-year package to mixed-status families where one spouse has a Social Security Number (SSN). As specified in the latest COVID relief legislation, these families are eligible for the EIP amount for each family member with an SSN, and can claim the corresponding amount for the first round of economic impact payments when they file their 2020 taxes.