Rep. Smith Statement on House Passage of American Rescue Plan Providing Desperately Needed COVID-19 Relief

Statement

Representative Adam Smith (D-Wash.) released the following statement after the House passed the American Rescue Plan Act, sending it to President Biden's desk to be signed into law.

"The American Rescue Plan Act will provide the tools needed to beat COVID-19 and support individuals, families, and small businesses struggling from the economic crisis. This package provides direct cash assistance to families, ramps up vaccine distribution, gives schools resources for COVID-19 prevention and mitigation, and supports small businesses.

"The American Rescue Plan delivers immediate relief to the workers and families bearing the brunt of this pandemic. The bill will provide direct housing assistance, nutrition assistance for 40 million Americans, and expand access to safe and reliable child care. It includes the most significant expansion of affordable health insurance in a decade to keep affordable health care within reach for millions of people. Unemployment insurance is extended so that 18 million American workers can afford to pay their bills and put food on the table. The bill also strengthens economic recovery by expanding the Child Tax Credit and the Earned Income Tax Credit to cut child poverty in half and support more than 17 million low-wage workers.

"While we still have much work to do, this package lays the foundation needed to help bring an end to the pandemic, support students and schools, get shots in arms, put dollars into families' pockets, and help people get back to work."

For more details, please see the H.R. 1319, American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 One-Pager here and full Fact Sheet here.

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