Today is Thursday, March 11th, and you're listening to The Morning Announcements.

I'm Tammy Sage.

The COVID relief bill has officially passed Congress.

I know it feels like I've said that about a hundred times, but this time it's for real people.

The final package includes direct stimulus payments, federal unemployment benefits

up $300 per week, and expansion of the child's tax credit, new PPP money,

as well as funding for vaccine distribution, schools, and rental assistance.

In keeping with their pattern of casual cruelty, not a single Republican voted for the bill.

Biden will sign it on Friday and set it majority-leader Chuck Schumer made a statement yesterday saying,

"'Help is on the way. You will receive $1,400 checks by the end of March.'"

I know this bill is a huge victory, and I'm extremely thrilled that it was able to pass it all,

but there's something about the irony of saying,

"'Help is on the way,' a full year into the pandemic that I simply can't ignore."

This week, Governor Assa Hutchinson of Arkansas signed a bill called the

Arkansas Unborn Child Protection Act into law. The law outlaws all abortions except to save the

life or preserve the health of the child, remove a dead unborn child, remove an ectopic pregnancy,

or to save the life of the mother. Under the bill, anyone who performs or attempts to perform an

abortion other than in those exceptional situations could be fined up to $100,000, face up to 10

years in prison, or both. So, basically, the bill is erotic off for Amy Coney Barrett. Next stop,

Gilead. Donald Trump just can't stop haunting the GOP. Last week he released a statement,

like the old fashioned way since he still can't tweet and is permanently banned from doing so,

saying, "'No more money for rhinos.'" rhinos stands for Republicans in name only,

...