UPDATE 1-Brazil's lower house approves bill allowing renewal of pandemic aid to poor families

[ASFN Admin]

Brazil's lower house of Congress approved the basic text of a bill on Thursday that revives a federal cash transfer program to help millions of poor families whose incomes have been hit by the COVID-19 pandemic. Brazil's Senate passed the amendment last week. The government's emergency aid to millions of poor families last year totaled some 322 billion reais, worth around 4.5% of GDP, and expired on Dec. 31.

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