Torres anxious for release of $1,400 additional stimulus

Gov. Ralph DLG Torres said Monday his administration is anxious to immediately release $1,400 in additional stimulus check payments to each taxpayer once the American Rescue Plan legislation is signed into law and funding is subsequently transferred to the CNMI.

Speaking at a radio news briefing on Monday, Torres said everybody is looking into an update on the U.S. Senate’s passage of the American Rescue Plan that the U.S. House of Representatives passed last Saturday.

The U.S. Senate amended the bill before passing it, which means it has been returned to the U.S. House, which is expected to vote on the third stimulus package’s final passage this week.

Torres said he spoke to Finance Secretary David DLG Atalig and the Division of Tax and Revenue and both had expressed that they are poised to release the stimulus funds as soon as they get the funding.

“Again, it’s not here yet. So, to everybody that’s anxious, we are anxious to release that. We don’t have the funding yet,” said Torres, adding that they don’t know when they are going to get the funding.

“But rest assured that the minute we get the green light and notification from the White House, then we will let everybody know.”

Delegate Gregorio Kilili C. Sablan (Ind-MP) said over the weekend that H.R. 1319, the American Rescue Plan, extends federal unemployment assistance through August 2021, gives each taxpayer an additional $1,400 rebate, and keeps teachers and staff paid so schools can remain open.

Sablan also stated in his e-kilili newsletter that H.R. 1319 includes more money for Marianas food aid and vaccinations, and funds the Commonwealth and municipal governments with an estimated half-billion dollars.

In addition, the delegate said, the Child Tax Credit for families is raised and made monthly, and the Earned Income Tax Credit in the Marianas will permanently be paid by the federal government.

Sablan said no Republicans voted for the American Rescue Plan in the House. He said Republicans attempted to block consideration in the Senate, but Vice President Kamala Harris cast a deciding vote to begin debate.

Sablan said the Senate base bill reduces eligibility for the $1,400 rebate so no individual making more than $80,000 qualifies—a change that should have little impact in the Marianas—and excludes any increase in minimum wage.

He said the Marianas would receive $14.3 million for critical capital projects directly enabling work, education, and health monitoring, including remote options, in response to the pandemic.

He said the estimated half-billion dollars coming to the Marianas as Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds could also be used for investments in water, sewer, or broadband infrastructure, under terms added in the Senate bill.

He said among amendments Republicans put forward are cuts to these funds for U.S. insular areas.