Vermont House OKs stimulus checks for immigrant workers

MONTPELIER, Vt. (AP) — The Vermont House has given preliminary approval to $5 million in stimulus payments amid the coronavirus pandemic for residents who did not receive stimulus checks from the federal government based on their immigrant status.

Under the Vermont Coronavirus Economic Stimulus Equity Program approved Tuesday, eligible adults would receive $1,200 and $500 for each eligible child. They must have had adjusted gross income of less than $99,000 last year or, if filing jointly, an adjusted gross income of less than $198,000.

The proposal is up for a final reading in the House on Wednesday before heading to the Senate.

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THE NUMBERS

Vermont reported two new cases of the coronavirus on Wednesday for a total of 1,656 cases since the pandemic began. One person was hospitalized with COVID-19, the illness caused by the virus, according to the Health Department. The total number of deaths has remained at 58 since July 28.