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President-elect Joseph R. Biden Jr. on Thursday proposed a $1.9 trillion rescue package to combat the economic downturn and the Covid-19 crisis, outlining the type of sweeping aid that Democrats have demanded for months and signaling the shift in the federal government’s pandemic response as Mr. Biden prepares to take office.
HIGHLIGHTS
$400 billion to combat the pandemic directly
Fund 100,000 public health workers to engage in vaccine outreach and contact tracing.
$20 billion “national vaccine program
$350 billion would help state and local governments bridge budget shortfalls
$1,400 direct payments to individuals
Generous unemployment benefits with an extra $400 weekly supplement.
Extend tax credits to many families to offset up to $8,000 in annual child care costs.
Called on Congress to raise the federal minimum wage to $15 an hour