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Aruba’s ONLY English newspaper
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Biden flexible on who gets aid, tells lawmakers to ‘go big’
By LISA MASCARO and JOSH BOAK
Associated Press
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden told Demo- FINANCIAL
cratic lawmakers Wednesday he’s “not married” to an
absolute number on his $1.9 trillion COVID rescue plan but
Congress needs to “act fast” on relief for the pandemic
and the economic crisis. AID
Biden also said he doesn’t want to budge from his pro-
posed $1,400 in direct payments promised to Americans.
But he said he is willing to “target” the aid, which would
mean lowering the income threshold to qualify for the
money.
“Look, we got a lot of people hurting in our country to-
day,” Biden said. “We need to act. We need to act fast.”
Biden said, “I’m not going to start my administration by
breaking a promise to the American people.”
He spoke with House Democrats and followed with a
meeting at the White House with top Senate Democrats,
deepening his public engagements with lawmakers on
pandemic aid and an economic recovery package. To-
gether they are his first legislative priority and a test of the
administration’s ability to work with Congress to deliver.
Biden’s remarks to the Democratic House caucus were
relayed by two people who requested anonymity to dis- President Joe Biden meets with Senate Majority Leader Sen. Chuck Schumer of N.Y., and other
cuss the private conference call. Democratic lawmakers to discuss a coronavirus relief package, in the Oval Office of the White
House, Wednesday, Feb. 3, 2021, in Washington.
Continued on Page 2 Associated Press