One significant step Congress took during the COVID-19 pandemic to lessen the economic blow to those impacted was the passage of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act in March 2020. This $2.3 trillion relief package included direct cash payments to individuals ($1,200 per person plus $500 per child), expanded unemployment benefits to cover furloughed workers, gig workers, and freelancers, and additional weekly unemployment payments of $600 through July 2020. It also provided mortgage forbearance and a moratorium on foreclosures for federally backed mortgages, loans and grants to small businesses through the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), and substantial funding for hospitals and healthcare providers
. Additionally, Congress passed the American Rescue Plan Act in 2021, which provided further direct payments to individuals ($1,400 per person and child), extended unemployment benefits, increased tax credits like the Child Tax Credit, and allocated billions for vaccine distribution, education, and emergency rental assistance
. These legislative actions were aimed at providing immediate financial relief to individuals, supporting small businesses, and bolstering public health efforts during the pandemic.
