After weeks of negotiations, Congress finally passed the $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief bill, titled the American Rescue Plan.

“Today, I was proud to vote to send the American Rescue Plan to President Biden’s desk – a package that recognizes the enormity of this crisis and meets the moment,” said Rep. Lisa Blunt-Rochester, D-Del.

Included in the bill are expanded tax credits over the next year for children, child care and family leave — some of them Democrats have signaled they’d like to make permanent — plus spending for renters, feeding programs and utility bills.

“The American Rescue Plan is what Delaware and our country need at this moment,” said Sen. Chris Coons, D-Del.

“Parents and kids are struggling as schools remain disrupted. Service sector workers are enduring prolonged joblessness. Restaurant owners are wondering whether the business will survive. The American Rescue Plan puts the full force of the federal government behind ending this pandemic and helping Delawareans recover.”

Besides direct payments and jobless-benefit extension, the measure has hundreds of billions for COVID-19 vaccines and treatments, schools, state and local governments and ailing industries from airlines to concert halls. There is aid for farmers of color, pension systems and student borrowers, and subsidies for consumers buying health insurance and states expanding Medicaid coverage for lower earners.

The extra round of Economic Impact Payments will mean $1,400 for individuals making up to $75,000 per year and $2,800 for couples making up to $150,000 per year. Eligible families will get an extra $1,400 payment per child and adult dependent, amounting to $5,600 for an average family of four.

Stimulus checks

At the Food Lion in Milford, most people were in favor of the checks but not the lawmakers sending them.

“I think it’ll help a lot of people that have lost a lot of money,” said Marie Weigman, a senior who was loading groceries into her sedan. It’ll help get them back on their feet.”

It will also be good for her.

“It’s kind of a small amount, but it’ll help,” Ms. Weigman said. “It’s going to help me pay some bills.”

But she took serious issue with the elected body that passed the bill.

“Get some new congressmen,” Ms. Weigman said when asked about what she would like to see happen with the government. “Get rid of (House Leader Rep.) Nancy Pelosi and all the ones that have been in there for so many years. They should have a term limit.”

Trey Scott, who was also getting groceries at Food Lion on Wednesday afternoon, was largely on the same page.

“It’s definitely a big help,” he said of the stimulus checks, “but it seems that (Congress) put too much stress and time into it. It should just be something they should automatically be doing.”

Mr. Scott went on to explain how he understands the covenant between the U.S. government and its citizens as it relates to taxes.

“When you pay taxes, everyone is paying in,” he said. “It’s our money.

“The government is supposed to be banking for us. They take our taxes and shove them in a closet somewhere. Then when we need it, they’re supposed to go in and give us what we need to survive,” Mr. Scott said. “Instead, they act like the taxes we pay them are for them to keep.”

How far does $1,400 go?

He and Rose Capece, another Food Lion patron, agreed that the checks are needed, even though she only believes they should be sent to those in need.

“People truly do need them,” Ms. Capece said.

But they also agreed that $1,400 is not a large sum of money.

“In today’s economy it would pay for a month’s rent and some food,” Ms. Capece said.

“I do think that would help,” she said. “I don’t think that’s a lot.”

The payments are also too little too late, Mr. Scott said.

“It’s called a relief bill and it’s not really relieving anybody because by the time they get the money, they’ve either already figured out how to survive through whatever situation they’re in or they’re still stuck,” he said.

He’d like to see a program more akin to the universal basic income pitched by former presidential contender and current New York City mayoral candidate Andrew Yang.

“They should focus on giving us a more manageable amount of money more often,” Mr. Scott said. “Instead of giving us $1,400 and making us wait three months for it… (give) people $500 every two weeks or something like that.”

Skeptics

But some Delawareans don’t like how the payments have impacted the labor market.

“I think it is slowing recovery in some instances,” said Julie King Beachboard of Millsboro. “Places are struggling to get help and people are getting paid by the government to essentially stay home a little longer.”

Ms. Capece was leery of large-scale spending. She’s happy with the fact that the $1,400 checks will only go to some Americans.

“We’re retired. We’re on a fixed income,” she said of her own household. “Do we need it? Not really.”

Ms. Capece feels the deficit is something worth paying attention to.

“Can you keep printing money? I don’t know,” she said. “Who’s going to pay it all back? We are.”

The retiree also marveled at the scale of the nation’s struggles and wondered if the government was up to the task.

“How much more can you do? We’re talking about millions of people,” she said.

Dr. David Grantz agreed with Ms. Capece’s about the deficit.

“I agree that (the stimulus is) needed; but I do wish it was more targeted,” he said. “My big worry is the long-term impact on the economy through inflation and taxes; especially with the deficit already being run so high in the last few years.”

Georgetown resident Jim Bowden thinks the “money stimulus for families is good. All of the other spending except for infrastructure and farmers is ridiculous.”

Seaford’s Roger Niblett, a retired U.S. Army member, felt the funding should be earmarked for Americans and those citizens in need.

“Many citizens my age can’t understand why this administration is so much for illegal citizens and letting our homeless and veterans suffer,” Mr. Niblett said. “Why are we bailing out poorly managed states and programs that the majority of Americans don’t agree with?”

Local leaders

Some local leaders also shared their thoughts.

Georgetown Mayor Bill West said the stimulus money “needs to go to the people in the U.S.” The mayor said it “doesn’t help our children who need to be back in school. To me, people are so angry at one another with short fuses. Social skills need to get back in place.”

Dover Mayor Robin R. Christiansen said the plan should help many households who are currently struggling.

“This is great news for communities that have been challenged fiscally,” Mayor Christiansen said. “The city of Dover has been affected minimally because of its structure (business plan), but other communities need this boost because of layoffs and business closures due to the pandemic.

“I salute the Congress and the Senate for working on meaningful legislation to benefit a nation and its citizens in need of hope for the future after the ravages of the pandemic.”

Sarah Gilmour of Lewes Beach says the stimulus funding will help Pathways to Success students and families.

“As the outreach coordinator for Pathways to Success that serves students at four Sussex County High Schools, I can only say that this is going to give much needed relief to them and their parents,” she said.

“Knowing that your back rent is going to be paid or help with utility bills will be offered because you lost your job and your belongings will not be thrown out on the curb, knowing that nutrition assistance through (Women, Infants and Children) and other programs will put food on the table, and knowing that you will have additional funds to help with necessities needed to keep a household together — all of this will give much needed relief.”