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What is in $900B Covid-19 relief bill? America slams $600 stimulus checks and $300 bonus benefits as 'crumbs'

The deal covers stimulus checks of up to $600 per person based on income, a federal unemployment insurance premium of $300 a week, over $284 billion more in loans for businesses among others

After months of delay, Congress finally struck a deal of nearly $900 billion in Covid-19 relief, on Sunday, December 20. The bill includes a new round of direct payments and relief for jobless Americans, families and businesses struggling in the pandemic. For the bill to become law, both the House and Senate must pass the legislation and President Donald Trump will need to sign it. Both chambers are expected to debate and vote on the package on Monday, December 21.

The relief package will be combined with a $1.4 trillion measure to fund federal agencies through the end of September 2021 and a package extending expiring tax provisions. Both Democrats and Republicans lauded various aspects of the relief package, though Democrats desired a significantly larger bill. "More help is on the way," Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., said on the Senate floor. "Moments ago, in consultation with our committees, the four leaders of the Senate and the House finalized an agreement," he added.

The deal covers stimulus checks of up to $600 per person based on income, a federal unemployment insurance premium of $300 a week, over $284 billion more in loans for businesses struggling to pay rent and workers, money to distribute vaccines and $82 billion for colleges and schools. It also includes the Democrats' priority of $25 billion in rental support and an extension of the moratorium on evictions. The stimulus package excludes the Republican priority of liability protection from Covid-19-related lawsuits for businesses, universities and health care centers. It also doesn't cover hundreds of billions of dollars for states and localities for Medicare and for teachers and first responders who have come under financial distress during the pandemic. Lawmakers are expected to vote on the package beginning Monday.

President-elect Joe Biden applauded the deal in a statement, saying he was "heartened" by its bipartisan support. He also pledged that his administration would immediately "undertake additional steps to get the virus under control and build our economy back better than it was before this crisis" once he takes office next month. Later, Senator Chuck Schumer called the relief deal "a strong shot in the arm" while Nancy Pelosi called it “a first step" to help provide relief to Americans.

As soon as the news made its way to social media, people started reacting to it, one Internet user slammed the stimulus check and said, "The US government is passing martinis for the corporate class and crumbs for the working class A $600 #StimulusCheck is not enough!" While another one slammed the government and said, "#StimulusCheck its really time for a revolution. These f*ck head a*s politicians need to be gone. Every last one."

Soon, more and more people started slamming the decision, as one wrote, "The $1200 last spring added to the $600 in January 2021 equals to $50 a week since the pandemic began almost a year ago. This country sucks. #StimulusCheck." Another distressed one wrote, "Nothing is gonna change until these politicians feel even a fraction of the pain they've inflicted on us #StimulusCheck"

While some had some funny references as one said, "... The stimulus check is like seeing side boob from a distance only to find out it's a fat guy in a tank top. ... #StimulusCheck" and "This #StimulusCheck is like a bag of Doritos... They now cost twice as much but you get half as many!"