Biden signs $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan sending $1,400 checks as COVID relief

President Biden signs the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (P.L. 117-2), a $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief package that sends $1,400 direct payments to most Americans, extends $300 per week in supplemental unemployment benefits, allocates $350 billion for state and local governments, and significantly expands the child tax credit from $2,000 to $3,600 per child. No Republicans vote for the law. The legislation passes via budget reconciliation. The child tax credit expansion cuts child poverty nearly in half within months, from 15% to 12%, before expiring at year-end 2021.