The Covid Relief Bill Is Welcome But Not Enough
The Biden administration should return to the issue as soon as possible.
Down to the wire after months of delay.
Photographer: Oliver Contreras/Bloomberg
The pandemic relief bill passed by Congress on Monday night will provide vital support for the economy and for millions of Americans struggling to cope with the current public-health emergency. At several points in recent weeks, following months of needless delay, lawmakers seemed ready to settle for doing nothing at all. In view of the stress that many households are under, that would’ve been unconscionable. Certainly, this long-overdue agreement is welcome.
That said, it’s only a stopgap. As quickly as possible next year, Congress and President-elect Joe Biden’s administration will need to come forward with another package — ideally one that remedies the defects of the current deal.