House of Representatives Sends American Rescue Plan to President Biden's Desk With Rep. Cleaver's Support

Press Release

(Washington, D.C.) -- Today, the House of Representatives passed the Senate Amendment to H.R. 1319, the American Rescue Plan Act, sending the $1.9 trillion relief package to be signed into law by President Biden. United States Representative Emanuel Cleaver, II (D-MO) once again supported the proposal to fund a national coronavirus vaccination program, provide financial relief to American families, support small businesses, safely get children back in schools, enhance nutrition and rental assistance, assist state and local governments, and more.

"Today is a truly hopeful day for tens of millions of American families who have faced one of the most trying years in modern history," said Congressman Cleaver. "The American Rescue Plan will accelerate the demise of COVID through a national vaccination program, provide working class families with desperately needed $1,400 direct payments, ensure that states and cities don't have to lay off teachers and first responders due to budget cuts, extend unemployment benefits for 18 million workers, cut child poverty in half, and so much more. It is the most ambitious, bold, and progressive legislation passed in decades, and I couldn't be prouder to join my colleagues in passing this critical bill for the American people."

While the coronavirus continues to take a toll on millions of lives and livelihoods in Missouri, the American Rescue Plan Act takes a comprehensive approach to:

Crush COVID-19 and safely return kids to schools by mounting a national vaccination program that includes setting up community vaccination sites across the country. It will take complementary measures to combat the virus, including scaling up testing and tracing, providing additional PPE and other needed supplies to support frontline health workers, investing in high-quality treatments, and addressing unacceptable health inequities that have disproportionately impacted communities of color. The plan will also provide nearly $130 billion to help K-12 schools re-open safely for students and teachers.
Deliver immediate financial relief to working class families with checks of $1,400 going to Americans making $75,000 or less. Additionally, the bill will provide $25 billion in rental and homeowner assistance, $5 billion for low-income utility assistance, nutrition assistance for 40 million Americans, expand access to safe and reliable child care and affordable health care, extend unemployment insurance for 18 million workers who lost their job due to no fault of their own, support 27 million children with an expanded Child Tax Credit, and stabilize multiemployer pensions that have been undermined by the pandemic.
Support businesses and communities struggling from the economic crisis by providing much needed assistance to the hardest-hit small businesses, particularly in underserved communities, with EIDL grants, expanded Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) eligibility, and more. The bill also sets aside nearly $30 billion to assist restaurants and live entertainment venues, which Rep. Cleaver has long supported.
The American Rescue Plan Act would also provide crucial funding and resources to states and municipalities to protect the jobs of first responders, public health workers, teachers, police officers, firefighters and other essential workers that have been on the front lines of the COVID crisis. According to estimates, Missouri would receive over $5.4 billion in federal funding. Municipalities in the Fifth Congressional District of Missouri would receive the following estimated funding:

Kansas City, Missouri -- More than $195,000,000;
Jackson County -- More than $136,000,000;
Clay County -- More than $48,400,000;
Cass County -- More than $20,500,000;
Independence, Missouri -- More than $20,000,000;
Lee's Summit, Missouri -- More than $9,200,000;
Blue Springs, Missouri -- More than $6,700,000;
Lafayette County -- More than $6,300,000;
Raytown, Missouri -- More than $5,300,000;
Gladstone, Missouri -- More than $5,000,000;
Grandview, Missouri -- More than $4,500,000;
Ray County -- More than $4,400,000;
Saline County -- More than $4,400,000;
Grain Valley, Missouri -- More than $2,600,000;
Marshall, Missouri -- More than $2,300,000;
Oak Grove, Missouri -- More than $1,500,000;
Richmond, Missouri -- More than $1,000,000;
Odessa, Missouri -- Approximately $970,000;
North Kansas City, Missouri -- Approximately $840,000;
Lexington, Missouri -- Approximately $840,000;
Sugar Creek, Missouri -- Approximately $600,000;
Slater, Missouri -- Approximately $320,000;
Sweet Springs, Missouri -- Approximately $260,000;
Lone Jack, Missouri -- Approximately $240,000; and
Orrick, Missouri -- Approximately $150,000.
"As a former Mayor, I understand how critical it is for Kansas City and other smaller municipalities in the Fifth District to receive direct funding," said Congressman Cleaver. "One of my priorities as we began to craft this proposal was to guarantee cities with populations under 500,000 would receive direct funding, and I'm thrilled we were able to make that much-needed change from previous relief packages."

According to poll, after poll, after poll, the American Rescue Plan Act enjoys overwhelming support from the American people, as roughly 70 percent of Americans support the legislation, including a majority of Republicans.

"Although no bill of this magnitude can possibly be perfect, this is one of the most important pieces of legislation passed during my time in Congress--and that is reflected by its support from the American public," said Congressman Cleaver. "Economists across the ideological spectrum estimate that it will significantly accelerate our economic recovery and overwhelmingly benefit working class Americans that have borne the brunt of this global pandemic. I was extraordinarily proud to support the American Rescue Plan today, and I will continue working to ensure these life- and livelihood-saving programs are implemented to best support the people of Western Missouri."

You can find a fact sheet of the American Rescue Plan Act here.

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