Skip to main content
Advertiser Disclosure
We do receive compensation from some partners whose offers appear on this page. We have not reviewed all available products or offers. Compensation may impact the order in which offers appear on page, but our editorial opinions and ratings are not influenced by compensation.

The Ascent Logo The Ascent Logo - Blue circle with an A in it and the ascent a motley fool company to the right of that

  • Credit Cards
  • Banking
  • Brokerages
  • Loans
  • Mortgages
  • Knowledge
  • Latest Picks
  • Search Icon Click here to search

Credit Cards

Top Picks
  • Best of January 2021
  • Cash Back
  • Balance Transfer
  • Travel
  • 0% APR
  • Rewards
  • Bad Credit
Knowledge
  • Beginners Guide to Credit Cards
  • How to Rebuild Your Credit
  • Maximize Your Credit Card Rewards
  • Learn More About Credit Cards
Credit Card Tools
  • Compare Cards
Looking for a new credit card?

Explore the best credit cards in every category as of January 2021.

Get started!

Banking

Top Picks
  • Best Savings Accounts
  • Best Bank Accounts
  • Best Money Market Accounts
  • Best CDs
  • Best Checking Account Bonuses
Knowledge
  • Beginners Guide to Banking
  • Everything You Need to Know About Savings
  • Money Market Accounts Made Easy
  • Learn More About Banking
Looking for a place to park your cash?

Check out our top picks of the best online savings accounts for January 2021.

Get Started!

Brokerages

Top Picks
  • Best Brokers of January 2021
  • Best Online Brokers for Beginners
  • Best Options Brokers
  • Best IRA Accounts
  • Best Roth IRA Accounts
  • Best Robo Advisors
Knowledge
  • How to Open a Brokerage Account
  • Beginner's Guide to Brokerages
  • Learn More About Brokerage
Just getting started?

Explore our picks of the best brokerage accounts for beginners for January 2021.

Get Started!

Loans

Top Picks
  • Best Loans of January 2021
  • Best Personal Loans for Bad Credit
  • Best Loans for Debt Consolidation
  • Best Low-Interest Personal Loans
  • Best Personal Loans for Good Credit
  • Best Personal Loans for Fair Credit
Knowledge
  • Personal Loans Made Easy
  • Debt Consolidation Guide
  • How to Pay Off Debt
  • Learn More About Loans
Thinking about taking out a loan?

Before you apply for a personal loan, here's what you need to know.

Get Started!

Mortgages

Top Picks
  • Best Mortgage Lenders of January 2021
  • Best Mortgage Lenders for Poor Credit
  • Best Refinance Lenders
  • Best VA Mortgage Lenders
Knowledge
  • First Time Homebuyers Guide
  • Home Loans Made Easy
  • The Complete Guide to Refinancing
  • How to Get a Mortgage with Bad Credit
  • Learn More About Mortgages
Tools & Calculators
  • Mortgage Calculator
Compare Rates
  • Today's Mortgage Rates
  • Refinance Rates
  • 15-Year Mortgage Rates
  • 20-Year Mortgage Rates
  • 30-Year Mortgage Rates
  • Jumbo Mortgage Rates
  • VA Loan Rates
  • 5/1 ARM Rates
  • 7/1 ARM Rates
  • FHA Mortgage Rates

Knowledge

Knowledge Section
  • All Articles
  • Credit Card Articles
  • Banking Articles
  • Brokerage Articles
  • Personal Loan Articles
  • Mortgage Articles
  • Personal Finance Articles
Recent Articles
  • IRS to Redirect Some $600 Stimulus Payments That Went to Closed Bank Accounts

    Personal Finance

    IRS to Redirect Some $600 Stimulus Payments That Went to Closed Bank Accounts
  • Biden's Unemployment Proposal Could Replace 86% of Lost Wages

    Personal Finance

    Biden's Unemployment Proposal Could Replace 86% of Lost Wages
  • U.S. Childcare Costs Are Crippling. Here's How Biden Plans to Help

    Personal Finance

    U.S. Childcare Costs Are Crippling. Here's How Biden Plans to Help
  • Stimulus Check Update: Biden Pushes for $1,400 Boost Not Just for the Jobless

    Personal Finance

    Stimulus Check Update: Biden Pushes for $1,400 Boost Not Just for the Jobless
  • The Ascent
  • Knowledge
  • Personal Finance

Bernie Sanders Urges Biden to Make $2,000 Stimulus Checks His First Priority

by Christy Bieber | Jan. 13, 2021

The Ascent is reader-supported: we may earn a commission from offers on this page. It’s how we make money. But our editorial integrity ensures our experts’ opinions aren’t influenced by compensation.

The White House surrounded by trees and a lawn with the American flag flying at the top of the building.

Image source: Getty Images

Bernie Sanders is pressuring the administration to swiftly provide $2,000 stimulus checks. Will you get your money?

When President-elect Biden is inaugurated next week, the incoming administration will need to hit the ground running. The country's new leader comes into office amidst a global pandemic that shows no immediate signs of abating.

If progressive Senator Bernie Sanders has his way, one of the very first things the new president will do is sign another coronavirus relief bill. The last COVID-19 legislation provided checks of up to $600 per adult and eligible dependent. Senator Sanders wants the next bill to be much more generous in helping the American public cope with the ongoing economic impact of the coronavirus pandemic.

Senator Sanders wants swift action on $2,000 stimulus checks

Senator Sanders made his position clear again on Monday. Biden tweeted that $600 is not enough when you have to choose between paying rent or putting food on the table. In response, Sanders urged his fellow Democrats to take action quickly and authorize a large direct payment.

"President-elect Biden is absolutely right. $600 is not enough for working class Americans who are struggling to pay the rent and feed their families," Sanders tweeted. "Our first order of business must be to pass $2,000 direct payments and major COVID-relief."

President Trump may have been the lawmaker who garnered the most press for proposing $2,000 checks in recent weeks. But Sanders has long been a supporter of the idea, calling on lawmakers to provide $2,000 stimulus payments as early as last spring. And last month, Sanders delayed a vote on a bipartisan bill to authorize defense spending in an attempt to force a vote for larger stimulus checks.

"This week on the Senate floor Mitch McConnell wants to vote to override Trump's veto of the $740 billion defense funding bill and then head home for the New Year," Sanders tweeted on Dec. 28. "I'm going to object until we get a vote on legislation to provide a $2,000 direct payment to the working class."

New Congress may be more receptive to larger stimulus checks

His efforts to ensure Congress provided large payments failed before when Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell controlled what came to the floor in the upper chamber. However, Democrats will soon control the Senate after winning two seats in Georgia's runoff election. The new Congress will likely be much more receptive to this idea.

In fact, Biden is expected to release a stimulus plan on Thursday that will include $2,000 checks. And incoming Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer has made clear that passing a stimulus bill -- with these payments included -- will be a top priority.

For Americans hoping for $2,000 payments quickly, however, some obstacles do remain -- including potential opposition from conservative Democrats. Still, the new president is on board. And with influential senators, including Bernie Sanders lobbying for the checks, there's a fairly good chance this money could soon be delivered into Americans' bank accounts.

Our credit card expert uses the card we reveal below, and it could earn you $1,148 (seriously)

As long as you pay them off each month, credit cards are a no-brainer for savvy Americans. They protect against fraud far better than debit cards, help raise your credit score, and can put hundreds (or thousands!) of dollars in rewards back in your pocket each year.

But with so many cards out there, you need to choose wisely. This top-rated card offers the ability to pay 0% interest on purchases into 2022, has some of the most generous cash back rewards we’ve ever seen (up to 5%!), and somehow still sports a $0 annual fee.

That’s why our expert – who has reviewed hundreds of cards – signed up for this one personally. Click here to get free access to our expert’s top pick.

About the Author

Christy Bieber
Christy Bieber icon-button-linkedin-2x

Christy Bieber is a personal finance and legal writer with more than a decade of experience. Her work has been featured on major outlets including MSN Money, CNBC, and USA Today.

Share This Page
Blue Facebook Icon Share this website with Facebook
Blue Twitter Icon Share this website with Twitter
Blue LinkedIn Icon Share this website with LinkedIn
Blue Mail Icon Share this website by email

The Ascent is reader-supported: we may earn a commission from offers on this page. It’s how we make money. But our editorial integrity ensures our experts’ opinions aren’t influenced by compensation.

Related Articles

Piggy bank and cash stacks image for How to Pay Off Debt

How to Pay Off Debt

Change on a desk image for How to Build Your Credit

How to Build Your Credit

A finger pointing to a Credit Rating scoring system on a screen with one through five star options. image for The Ascent's Definitive Credit Score Guide

The Ascent's Definitive Credit Score Guide

Pay Off Debt image for What Is Bankruptcy and How Does It Work?

What Is Bankruptcy and How Does It Work?

Featured Articles

How to Pay Off Debt

How to Build Your Credit

The Ascent's Definitive Credit Score Guide

What Is Bankruptcy and How Does It Work?


We’re firm believers in the Golden Rule, which is why editorial opinions are ours alone and have not been previously reviewed, approved, or endorsed by included advertisers. The Ascent does not cover all offers on the market. Editorial content from The Ascent is separate from The Motley Fool editorial content and is created by a different analyst team.

The Ascent Logo

The Ascent is a Motley Fool service that rates and reviews essential products for your everyday money matters.

btn_facebook-yellow btn_twitter-yellow btn_instagram-yellow

Copyright © 2018 - 2021 The Ascent. All rights reserved.

About The Ascent
About Us Contact Us Newsroom How We Make Money Editorial Integrity Ratings Methodology
Legal
Terms of Use Privacy Policy Accessibility Policy Terms and Conditions Copyright, Trademark and Patent Information
Learn
Credit Cards Banking Brokerage Loans Recent Articles

By submitting your email address, you consent to us sending you money tips along with products and services that we think might interest you. You can unsubscribe at any time. Please read our Privacy Statement and Terms & Conditions.

Back to The Motley Fool