President Joe Biden has signed his $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief package, and the White House says $1,400 stimulus checks will start to be delivered in Americans’ bank accounts in a matter of days.
During a press briefing on Thursday, White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki told reporters, “People can expect to start seeing direct deposits hit their bank accounts as early as this weekend.”
“This is, of course, just the first wave… And payments to eligible Americans will continue throughout the course of the next several weeks,” she added.
Biden signed the bill Thursday afternoon, as IJR reported. He said the bill marking his first legislative victory since taking office.
“This historic legislation is about rebuilding the backbone of this country,” he said in brief remarks.
The massive spending bill includes $1,400 checks per person to individuals who earn less than $80,000 a year or couples who earn less than $160,000.
While former President Donald Trump’s name appeared in the memo line in stimulus checks sent out last year, the White House says Biden’s name will not be on the latest round of direct payments.
“We’re doing everything in our power to expedite the payments and not delay them, which is why the president’s name will not appear on the line of the check,” Psaki told reporters earlier this week.
WH Press Sec. Psaki says Biden’s signature will not be on new stimulus checks: “We're doing everything in our power to expedite the payments and not delay them …” pic.twitter.com/ez1fpFpROb
— The Recount (@therecount) March 9, 2021
She added, “The checks will be signed by the career official. This is not about him. This is about the American people getting relief — almost 160 million of them.”
Psaki said Biden did not believe it was a “priority” or a “necessary step” for his name to appear on the checks.