The expanded $600 in unemployment benefits provided under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act are set to expire on Saturday, July 25.

At $2.2 trillion, the CARES Act amounted to the largest economic stimulus package in the history of the United States.

The bill included a $1,200 direct relief payment to each American, expanded unemployment benefits, created the Paycheck Protection Program and provided direct aid to businesses as well as state and local governments.

In the wake of the loss of millions of jobs at the outset of the pandemic brought on by the closure of many restaurants, retailers and other businesses to combat the spread of COVID-19, the relief package provided those on unemployment with an additional $600 per week.

“The additional $600 a week in unemployment benefits that congress included in the CARES Act has been nothing short of a lifeline for millions who lost their jobs because of the coronavirus,” said Senator Dianne Feinstein. “It puts food on the table, ensures rent is still paid and is helping keep millions of Americans above the poverty line.”

As the country continues to grapple with the pandemic, some have begun to criticize the additional benefits as encouraging those receiving them to not return to work, others though have highlighted that the additional funds often have other local benefits.

“The benefits don’t only help the recipients; they also support local business where the money is spent,” Feinstein said. “The Economic Policy Institute estimates that more than 5 million jobs were supported by this additional income, including 800,000 jobs in California. This program has kept the economy from suffering even more harm.”

Those expanded benefits are set to expire Saturday, however a number of Democratic politicians have been calling for the expanded benefits to be extended.

“If Congress allows these benefits to expire, children will go hungry, families will lose their homes and millions of temporary job losses could become permanent,” Feinstein said. “Congress has to come together and extend expanded unemployment benefits.”

KHTS FM 98.1 and AM 1220 is Santa Clarita’s only local radio station. KHTS mixes in a combination of news, traffic, sports, and features along with your favorite adult contemporary hits. Santa Clarita news and features are delivered throughout the day over our airwaves, on our website and through a variety of social media platforms. Our KHTS national award-winning daily news briefs are now read daily by 34,000+ residents. A vibrant member of the Santa Clarita community, the KHTS broadcast signal reaches all of the Santa Clarita Valley and parts of the high desert communities located in the Antelope Valley. The station streams its talk shows over the web, reaching a potentially worldwide audience. Follow @KHTSRadio on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.