Second Stimulus Check: When's the Earliest it Could be Sent?
To help weather the recession as a result of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, a second round of stimulus checks may be sent to eligible Americans as early as August based on the Senate's calendar.
To be clear, both Congress and the U.S. Treasury have yet to authorize another stimulus payment or even announce a possible date to send the second stimulus checks. The merits of another rescue package or economic impact payment are up to the Senate, which is now on its fourth of July recess.
But in a report from CNET, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnel vowed to discuss the next stimulus package after returning from their break later this month. He said he wanted to approve the next stimulus before Congress goes on recess in August.
Based on the Senate's schedule, a second stimulus check may be sent as early as August.
Here are some other dates to keep in mind:
July 3 to July 20
Senate is on break from July 3 to July 20, but Forbes reported that members will decide on the second stimulus check during this time.
Senator Roy Blunt said members of the Senate will use this time to collect information they need for a second stimulus package. Blunt believed that the timing is going to be "just about right" to collect the information they need and discuss the merits of another rescue package.
July 20 to August 7
The Senate will be holding sessions in the last two weeks of July and the first week of August. This gives them 15 working days to approve a second wave of stimulus checks.
August 10 to September 7
The Senate would be on a break for Labor Day from August 10 to September 7. During this break, the Senate will not be working, McConnell said on Tuesday. This gives the Senate 32 free working days from their last session.
Thus, the bill approving the second stimulus payment must be passed in both chambers before August 7, so that the Senate will be cleared from work during the break.
September 10 to September 25
The Senate would be back in session. Forbes reported that even if it is unlikely for the Congress to wait until September to approve the next stimulus package, it is still possible.
McConnell further noted that the next relief package might be the last.
When could the second stimulus payment be sent?
A timetable for another distribution of checks has not been included in the many proposals regarding the second stimulus payment.
Looking at the CARES Act that was approved on March 27 to provide $2.2 trillion financial stimulus check for the first round of payments, the checks were sent out on April 15. That's 17 days from approval to the first stimulus check being sent.
Thus, if the second stimulus payment will follow the same timetable, it is possible that the checks may be sent on or before September 1.
Trump supports a 'larger' stimulus check
In our earlier report, President Donald Trump backed a stimulus check higher than the $1,200 that was given for the first stimulus payment.
He also hoped to include a $600 bump in unemployment benefits in the next round of relief checks.
"I want the money getting to people to be larger so they can spend it," Trump told FOX Business. He added that he wanted it to be sent "quickly and in a noncomplicated fashion."
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