Pelosi says minimum guaranteed income across US ‘worthy of attention’ because of pandemic

House Speaker suggested initiative after endorsing Joe Biden for president

House speaker Nancy Pelosi has suggested a guaranteed minimum income for US residents, to help give relief to those affected by the coronavirus pandemic.

During an appearance on MSNBC on Monday, Ms Pelosi said that different relief options need to be discussed, and suggested minimum income as an idea.

“Let’s see what works, what is operational and what needs attention,” she said. “Others have suggested a minimum income, a guaranteed income for people. Is that worthy of attention now? Perhaps so,” Ms Pelosi added.

Earlier this month, stimulus cheques were sent to millions of Americans, who have been affected by the coronavirus crisis, as part of the stimulus bill.

The package provides $1,200 to every American who earns under $75,000 per year, as well as $500 to every family for every child under the age of 16.

Since the stimulus bill was made law, unemployment in the US has continued to rise, and in March, Ms Pelosi, along with other Democrats, urged the government to make plans for further relief.

In a letter to members of the house, she wrote that the next round of relief “must go further in assisting small businesses including farmers, extending and strengthening unemployment benefits and giving families additional direct payments.”

She added: “Our communities cannot afford to wait, and we must move quickly.”

Earlier on Monday, Ms Pelosi endorsed the presumptive Democratic nominee Joe Biden, for US president.

In a video accompanying the endorsement, she said: “Today, I am proud to endorse Joe Biden for President of the United States because he will be an extraordinary President. He knows how to get the job done.”

Ms Pelosi added that the former vice president impressed her with his coronavirus response: “As we face coronavirus, Joe has been a voice of reason and resilience with a clear path to lead us out of this crisis,” she said.

According to a tracking project hosted by Johns Hopkins University, nationally there are upwards of 968,203 people who have tested positive for coronavirus. The death toll has reached at least 54,948.