Today, Congressman David Scott (GA-13) voted to pass H.R. 1319, the American Rescue Plan in order to provide critical support to the millions of families, workers, and communities suffering from the coronavirus pandemic, while delivering the resources needed to keep states and municipalities investing in local economic growth.
“This bill provides relief for hungry people and for our agricultural producers, including $5 billion tailored to assist those Black, Hispanic, Native American, and other farmers of color who did not proportionately benefit from the tens of billions of dollars in COVID relief paid out to farmers last year,” stated Scott. “As the first African American Chairman of the House Agriculture Committee, I could not be prouder of the monumental step we are taking here today to correct this long-documented history of discrimination.”
“Almost a year into the COVID-19 pandemic, and millions of Georgians in low-income and rural communities continue to experience severe health care challenges and economic instabilities that have left them behind in previous recovery efforts. But, I have full faith that the American Rescue Plan will meet the urgency of this moment and help ensure an equitable and inclusive recovery for all.”
In total, more than $8.3 billion dollars in relief aid would be available to Georgia’s 159 counties and cities to prevent laying off workers in health care, transportation, and public safety. Additionally, the bill invests $130 billion to reopen our schools, provide resources to keep teachers safe, and support children who lost time in the classroom.
The American Rescue Plan Act delivers immediate relief by:
- Mounting a national vaccination program, increasing the pipeline of vaccine doses and Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) going to state and local governments, investing in high-quality healthcare, treatments, and telehealth services, sand by providing schools with the resources that they need to reopen safely.
- Providing direct assistance to households across America with checks of $1,400 per person, securing direct housing, rental, and utility assistance, increasing the size and scope of federal nutrition programs, childcare, and the Child Tax Credit and Earned Income Tax Credit, and by raising the minimum wage.
- Securing critical support for the hardest-hit small businesses, increasing unemployment insurance, expanding Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) eligibility, and by providing additional funding and resources for first responders, frontline public health workers, teachers, transit workers and other essential workers.
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