The US congress has just approved a stimulus package worth $150 bn to help ordinary Americans deal with the economic downturn. President Bush has praised the agreement and is now expected to sign it into law. This report from Jonathan Beale:

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It includes temporary rebates of up to six-hundred dollars for each individual and twelve-hundred dollars for every couple. The final package also provides rebates for low income retirees and military veterans.

The House of Representatives has also approved the measures. In a statement President Bush said the Bill would help stimulate consumer spending and accelerate needed business investment.

Jonathan Beale, BBC News, Washington

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a package
a related group of things (here, economic benefits ) that are offered together as a single unit

economic incentives
measures to make people and business spend more money

wrangled over
fought over, debated about or discussed in depth

the aid plan
the (here, economic) recovery package or idea

temporary rebates
giving money back to people (for example, charging them less on their next tax bill). This arrangement is not going to go on forever but is only for a short time or even a once-only payment

low income retirees
people who have little money and have stopped working because they have retired (they are over a particular age, for example over 65 or 70 years old)

military veterans
soldiers or other military staff who have fought in military battles

the measures
the plans

stimulate consumer spending
motivate or encourage people to spend money

accelerate
speed up

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