Biden orders stopgap help as aid talks start

President Joe Biden plans to take executive action Friday to provide a stopgap measure of financial relief to millions of Americans while Congress begins to consider his much larger $1.9 trillion pack to help those affected by coronavirus pandemic.

two executive orders that Biden is to sign would increase food aid, protect job seekers on unemployment and clear a path for federal workers and contractors to get a $15 hourly minimum w.

"Our ecomy is at a very precarious moment," said Brian Deese, director of White House National Ecomic Council.

"If we don't act w, we'll be in a much worse place and will need to do more dig out of an ecomic hole," Deese told reporters.

Deese emphasized that orders are t substitutes for ditional stimulus that Biden says is needed beyond $4 trillion in aid that has alrey been approved, including $900 billion this past December. Several Republican lawmakers have voiced opposition to provisions in Biden's plan for direct payments to individuals, state and local government aid and a $15 hourly minimum w nationwide.

Most ecomists believe United States can rebound with strength once people are vaccinated from coronavirus, but situation is still dire as disease has closed businesses and schools. Nearly 10 million jobs have been lost since last February, and nearly 30 million households lack secure access to food.

One of Biden's orders asks Agriculture Department to consider justing rules for food assistance, so that government could be obligated to provide more money to hungry.

Children who are unable to get school meals because of remote learning could receive a 15% increase in food aid, according to a fact sheet provided by White House. lowest-income households could qualify for emergency benefits from Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. And formula for calculating meal costs could become more generous.

order also tries to make it easier for people to claim direct payments from prior aid packs and or benefits. In dition, it would create a guarantee that workers could still collect unemployment benefits if y refuse to take a job that could jeopardize ir health.

Biden's second executive order would restore union bargaining rights revoked by Trump ministration, protect civil service system and promote a $15 hourly minimum w for all federal workers. Democratic president also plans to start a 100-day process for federal government to require its contractors to pay at least $15 an hour and provide emergency paid leave to workers, which could put pressure on or private employers to boost ir ws and benefits.

Im:AP