Congress last week passed a $2 trillion economic stimulus to combat the coronavirus pandemic without a single dissenting vote.

The legislation, which is expected to be enacted within days, is the biggest economic stimulus package in modern American history.

The plan will deliver a massive infusion of financial aid into a struggling economy hard hit by job loss, with provisions to help impacted American workers and families as well as small businesses and major industries, including airlines.

As part of the package, U.S. residents with adjusted gross income up to $75,000 ($150,000 for married couples) would get a $1,200 ($2,400 for couples) “rebate” payment. They are also eligible for an additional $500 per child.

Much of the focus during the pandemic has been on health care, but our economy is important, too.

Families are strapped, not certain when their next paycheck will come.

They need to put a roof over their heads, food on the table, pay medical bills.

Although the $1,200 payment would soon evaporate, every little bit counts.

It’s a slight glimmer of hope in a very dark time.

Administration officials said they hoped that the package’s effect on a battered economy would be exponentially greater than its $2 trillion cost, generating as much as $4 trillion in economic activity.

President Donald Trump said Sunday that some of the nation’s largest health care insurers are willing to waive co-payments for services until the crisis subsides.

Another encouraging sign for Americans

It’s encouraging that both Republican and Democrat members of Congress united in bipartisan support for approaches that usually divide them.

Republicans are lining up behind a record amount of deficit spending, including no-strings-attached cash grants to most Americans.

Democrats are agreeing to bail out businesses large and small with handouts and tax breaks.

Congress working together. It’s refreshing.

Republican or Democrat, black or white, gay or straight, we all need to stand united in this traumatic and uncertain time.

The stimulus package is a massive first step, but much more needs to be done to get our country back on firm financial footing.

It will take an extended period of time before our country returns to some sense of normalcy.

We will do it together. We are Americans. United we stand.

— JGG