PORTLAND — Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (D-Maine) joined 86 members of Congress on April 1 in introducing the All Dependent Children Count Act, a bipartisan bill to guarantee college students and adult dependents will receive the one-time COVID-19 relief payments authorized by the CARES Act, according to a news release.

The coronavirus relief package that passed Congress and was signed by President Trump last Friday provides $1,200 to most adults and $500 for children under age 17, but excludes anyone who could be claimed as a dependent, the release noted.

The All Dependent Children Count Act would expand the definition of a dependent for the Recovery Rebates for Individual section of the CARES Act to include: children under 19, students under 24, and dependents who have disabilities, according to the release. 

“Although some young adults may be claimed as a ‘dependents’ they are actually financially independent and could be out of work or struggling to make rent because of this pandemic,” said Pingree. “It’s critical that we act on this bill and make this technical fix to the CARES Act so that millions of Americans do not lose out on much-needed economic relief.”

The full bill text can be found here.