An ongoing Change.org petition calling for monthly $2,000 checks for every American during the pandemic has topped 2 million signatures since it was started by a Colorado restaurant owner in March 2020.
Stephanie Bonin, who opened a restaurant with her husband in 2005, asked Congress to “support families with a $2,000 payment for adults and a $1,000 payment for kids,” writing that she was one of millions of Americans who are struggling financially as a result of governmental restrictions implemented in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
She said the payments should go out “immediately” and become “continuing regular checks for the duration of the crisis.”
“Otherwise, laid-off workers, furloughed workers, the self-employed, and workers dealing with reduced hours will struggle to pay their rent or put food on the table,” she continued.
The number of signatures continued to climb as the third round of stimulus checks were approved, providing American taxpayers making less than $75,000 with $1,400 checks. The first stimulus check totaling $1,200 went out in early 2020 and a second worth $600 was approved later that same year.
Bonin wrote in an update on the petition that the single payment from the Biden administration isn’t enough.
“As the Biden administration takes office, the country is deeply struggling. We’re out of work and out of cash. It took nine months for Congress to send a second stimulus check, and just moments to spend it. Another single check won’t solve our problems – people are just too far behind,” she wrote. “Like we’ve been saying from the beginning of this pandemic, people need to know when the next check is coming. And the best thing our government can do right now is send emergency money to the people on a monthly basis. Sign to join our movement to get recurring checks to the people.”
If the petition reaches 3 million signatures, it will become one of the most supported requests in the website’s history.
The Palm Beach Post reported that the Biden administration’s American Rescue Plan passed by Congress in March will allow restaurants, caterers, bars and other food-service business to apply for aid through the Restaurant Revitalization Fund starting Monday.
In the legislation worth $1.9 trillion, just over $28 billion was allocated to help strained industries hurt by government restrictions during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Individuals who want to apply for the federal relief can do so online through the U.S. Small Business Administration website or call the center’s hotline for assistance at 844-279-8898.
