COVID-19 stimulus bill by the numbers

This is the largest relief package in U.S. history. To put that number in perspective, this stimulus bill is bigger than the 2009 recovery act and 2008 bank bailout combined, according to reporting from the Associated Press.

Officials expressed hope the stimulus would inspire $4 trillion in economic activity. The agreement, reached in the early hours of Wednesday, March 25, came after almost a week of tense negotiations and two votes that failed.

The bill permits the Treasury Department to lend $500 billion in subsidized loans to big businesses including airlines and hotels.

The package allocates $367 billion to support small businesses. Small to mid-size companies with 500 employees or fewer could access federally guaranteed loans to maintain payroll even if businesses are temporarily closed. Additional costs including utilities and rent would be forgiven for up to eight weeks for employers meeting loan requirements.

The stimulus package sets aside $250 billion for unemployment insurance benefits, including an additional $600 in weekly unemployment checks—which averages $385—for up to four months.  This provision will extend to people who are usually ineligible for unemployment benefits, including independent contractors, “gig” workers, and those who are self-employed. According to a report released by the Department of Labor, 3.28 million people filed unemployment claims for the week ending on March 21. 

$250 billion will be distributed to qualifying Americans in the form of one-time checks based on adjusted gross income (AGI), with amounts decreasing or phasing out completely at higher income levels. Adults will receive $1,200 each and $500 per child age 16 or under. Checks will be smaller for increased AGI thresholds: $5 less for every $100 more in AGI. The phaseouts begin to kick in at $75,000 for individuals, $112,500 for heads of household, and $150,000 for married couples filing jointly. Singles making $99,000 or more and couples without children making $198,000 or more would be ineligible for relief checks.

Income is based on 2019 tax returns, or 2018 returns if 2019 has not yet been filed. According to a notice posted to the Internal Revenue Service website on March 30, Social Security recipients who do not normally file a return will need to complete a simple tax return form to receive payment. The form is not yet available. 

The $242 billion for public health features additional funding for transportation agencies, $150 billion to support hospitals and health-care workers, and $15.6 billion for the country’s food stamp program, which has an annual budget of $70 billion. America’s food stamps feed approximately 40 million people annually who qualify as low-income.

$150 billion will be sent directly to hard-hit state and local governments who are battling the financial impacts of COVID-19 outbreaks. These funds will help supplement the losses of their biggest revenue sources: sales tax and personal income tax.

The $500 billion provision for big businesses includes the allotment of $25 billion in strings-attached grants to airlines. Airline contractors such as caterers will receive $3 billion in grants, and cargo haulers will receive a total of $4 billion. The same amount will also be made available via loans.

Part of the $500 billion corporate aid package includes a provision that $17 billion be allocated to companies crucial to America's national security. Though no companies were specifically mentioned in the bill, this will likely include companies essential to the country’s defense and infrastructure like General Electric and Boeing.

The Defense Department will receive $1.2 billion to support the National Guard’s COVID-19 containment efforts. To date, more than 10,000 National Guard members have been deployed to three states hit the hardest by COVID-19: Washington, California, and New York.

States will receive $400 million to make adjustments to the voting process for the 2020 presidential election, including the expansion of early voting, online registration, and the ability for voters to cast ballots by mail.

A portion of the $342 million allocated to the State Department will be set aside for expenses related to the evacuation of Americans. According to a State Department official, 13,500 Americans are seeking assistance abroad.

The Senate’s proposed bill last week totaled 247 pages. House Democrats countered with a 1,404-page stimulus proposal. The latest version comes in at more than 500 pages.

The bill prohibits the Pentagon from moving any of the $1.2 billion Defense Department allotment to the counter-drug account, which has been used in the past to fund the U.S.-Mexico border wall.

The stimulus bill allows companies to defer payment of their 2020 payroll taxes, paying 50% in 2021 and the remaining 50% in 2022.

A provision in the stimulus bill prohibits businesses owned by the president, vice president, top government officials, heads of executive departments, and members of Congress from receiving loans or investments from the Treasury programs being put forth.