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What They Are Saying: President Biden’s American Rescue
Plan
WHAT THEY ARE SAYING:
President Biden’s American Rescue Plan
Today, Senate Democrats passed the American Rescue Plan -- a
critical next step in delivering urgent relief to the
millions of American families and businesses in need. The
package will deliver immediate relief to the American people
-- finishing the job on $2,000 checks, funding a national
vaccination program, extending unemployment insurance, and
providing the resources for schools to safely re-open. As
the country faces the grave economic and public health
crises, this historic legislation will create 7 million new
jobs, cut child poverty in half, make health care more
affordable, and save lives and livelihoods. President Biden
and Congressional Democrats have sent a clear signal to the
American people that the government once again works for the
people.
Here's what they are saying about the American Rescue Plan:
President Joe Biden: "When I took office, I promised help
was on the way. Thanks to Senator Schumer and Senate
Democrats, we've taken one more giant step forward in
delivering on that promise. I hope the American Rescue Plan
receives a quick passage in the House so it can be sent to
my desk to be signed."
Vice President Kamala Harris: "Thank you to the Senators who
voted to pass the American Rescue Plan. Your vote gets us a
step closer to giving millions of Americans the relief they
need and deserve. We look forward to seeing the bill pass in
the House and get to President Biden’s desk for signature.
Help is on the way."
President Barack Obama: "Elections matter—and we’re seeing
why. Congratulations to the Biden Administration and to the
American people on a COVID relief bill that will improve the
lives of families across the country. This landmark
legislation will help families pay rent and put food on the
table, lift millions of children out of poverty, make health
care more affordable, aid small businesses, fund broad-based
vaccination efforts, and make it easier for states to reopen
schools. This is the kind of progress that’s possible when
we elect leaders across government who are devoted to making
people’s lives better—and a reminder of why it’s so
important to vote."
Secretary Hillary Clinton: "The American Rescue Plan is one
of the most ambitious pieces of legislation in a generation.
It will materially help families in dire need. It will help
end this pandemic. It will cut child poverty in half. Lots
more to do. But let’s celebrate this hard-fought progress."
Congressional Leaders
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer: "BREAKING: Senate
Democrats just passed the American Rescue Plan and big, bold
COVID relief for people across this country. Senate
Democrats made a promise to the American people to deliver
the bold COVID relief they need, and we have fulfilled that
promise with the American Rescue Plan. Americans demanded
help, and Democrats promised to get it to them: For families
and people, For those who lost their job through no fault of
their own, For food, rent, utilities, For small businesses,
For the vaccine. With the American Rescue Plan More help is
on the way."
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi: “Today is a day of great
progress and promise for the American people, as the
Democratic Senate has passed President Biden’s American
Rescue Plan to save lives and livelihoods. The House now
hopes to have a bipartisan vote on this life-saving
legislation and urges Republicans to join us in recognition
of the devastating reality of this vicious virus and
economic crisis and of the need for decisive action. The
American Rescue Plan takes a tremendous step forward to
defeat the virus and provide relief to families and small
businesses in need. It honors our heroes – our health care
workers, food, sanitation and transportation workers, and
teachers – who are on the frontlines on the state and local
level. It crushes the virus with the equitable and
immediate distribution of the vaccine. And it puts our
children safely back in school and puts workers back on the
job. Overall, this coronavirus-centric legislation puts
nearly a trillion dollars in the pockets of
America’s families. The American Rescue Plan is a beacon of
hope for America’s families and a sign that, as President
Biden has promised: Help Is On The Way.”
Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin: “President Biden’s
American Rescue plan will improve Illinois’ public health
and jumpstart our economy by investing billions of federal
dollars in our state. I was proud to help secure provisions
with Senator Duckworth to ramp up vaccine distribution
efforts; provide a lifeline to workers, small businesses,
and families; avoid devastating cuts in state and local
government operations; get our kids back to school safely;
and much more. We are close to finally putting this pandemic
behind us."
House Majority Leader Steny H. Hoyer: "The Senate has now
passed President Biden's American Rescue Plan to provide
long-awaited relief to Americans suffering from the economic
impacts of COVID-19 and to boost our capacity to save lives
by ramping up the deployment of testing and vaccines. The
help that so many of our people have been waiting for during
months of Republican inaction is one step closer. On
Tuesday, the House will consider the Senate's amended
version of the American Rescue Plan, so that we can send
this bill to President Biden for his signature early next
week. Democrats are delivering on our promise to take action
to defeat this virus and provide the assistance the American
people need until our economy can reopen safely and fully."
House Majority Whip James Clyburn: "With Senate passage of
the American Rescue Plan, we are days away from a major step
toward ending the pandemic through vaccines, testing &
tracing; providing a financial lifeline to families,
businesses & communities; and reopening schools safely. Help
is on the way!"
Members of the Cabinet
Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen: With the Senate’s vote on
the America Rescue Plan, the bill is one step closer to
passage. Once the plan is signed into law, I am confident
that Americans will be met by a strong economy when we make
it to the other side of the pandemic."
Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo: Thank you senators for
your swift action on the American Rescue Plan. It will
create millions of good-paying jobs, support small
businesses, & help grow a more equitable economy. We must
continue acting with the urgency this moment demands. There
is no time to slow down."
Education Secretary Miguel Cardona: "The Senate passage of
President Biden’s American Rescue Plan is a huge step in
helping get students back into the classroom for in-person
learning. The government will work closely with leaders on
the ground to ensure we reopen schools as quickly and safely
as possible — and keep them open."
Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm: "Mr. President — thank
you so much for your leadership, your compassion, and your
ability to deliver relief for the American people."
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack: “I am grateful to the
U.S. Senate for passing the American Rescue Plan today to
bring much-needed nutrition assistance and financial relief
to millions of families struggling to pay the bills and put
healthy food on the table. President Biden made this
transformative piece of legislation his first priority upon
taking office, and he fulfilled his pledge to the American
people. If you’re a mother or father struggling to get by,
who didn’t always know when or where the next meal would
come from, you will rest easier tonight knowing help is on
the way. The bill not only boosts SNAP benefits through
September, it also increases targeted nutrition assistance
to mothers and young children and expedites more nutrition
aid to U.S. territories...The American Rescue Plan is
historic for other reasons, namely for the transformative
debt relief it provides to Black, Indigenous, Hispanic, and
other farmers of color...The American Rescue Plan ensures
that we get the
economy on track for everyone, especially those who have
been marginalized, who are hurting, who have been overlooked
or shut out in the past. The U.S. Department of Agriculture
stands ready to implement these important provisions once
the bill clears Congress and is signed into law by President
Biden.”
Organizations
Clarence Anthony, National League of Cities (NLC) CEO and
Executive Director: "We applaud the Senate for committing
much-needed $65 billon of direct aid to all municipalities
to help our communities recover and rebuild from the
devastation caused by COVID-19. Today’s vote is an important
acknowledgement of the urgency with which we all must work
to ensure our municipalities have the resources to put an
end to the pandemic. In particular, our nation’s small
municipalities – which have been passed over in all previous
federal relief packages – will finally be able to secure the
direct relief they need to ensure critical local services
can continue during this critical moment. As the American
Rescue Plan makes its way back to the House of
Representatives, and ultimately to President Biden’s desk,
we urge lawmakers to preserve the essential aid they have
secured for our local governments on the front lines.
Throughout this pandemic, our community leaders, first
responders and members of our
critical local workforce have worked tirelessly to protect
our communities from COVID-19, and we implore Congress and
the President to ensure their sacrifices are met with a
steadfast commitment to supporting our hometowns now and
throughout our nation’s economic recovery.”
Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer, President, United State
Conference of Mayors (USCM): “Mayors everywhere thank the
Senate and Majority Leader Chuck Schumer for passing the
American Rescue Plan and delivering hope to the millions of
Americans who are hurting during this pandemic. We are
especially grateful to Senator Schumer for his leadership in
restoring the full funding for local governments that was
approved by the House. We know we have a challenging road
ahead, but this legislation will pave the way for America’s
recovery from the worst public health crisis in a
generation. This bill will allow our cities to keep our
residents healthy, provide essential services, keep our
first responders on the job, and begin to unleash the full
power of the American economy. With this legislation, we can
see a light at the end of the tunnel. America’s mayors thank
President Biden for his bold leadership to defeat this virus
and rescue our economy. We look forward to the House passing
the bill under the
leadership of Speaker Pelosi and seeing the President sign
this critical legislation into law.” [Press Release, 3/6/21]
Matthew Chase, Executive Director, National Association of
Counties (NACo): "We applaud the House and now the Senate
for passing the State and Local Coronavirus Fiscal Recovery
Funds. This bill recognizes counties’ vast responsibilities
to care for our most vulnerable residents – our sick,
unemployed, elderly and youth. For too long, the pressing
challenges and needs facing our counties have outstripped
our depleted local resources. The passage of this bill
affirms a strong federal-state-local partnership, an
investment in counties on the front lines and a commitment
to defeating this pandemic together. While counties face
record demand for essential services, we have shed jobs at
rates far outpacing the rest of the economy. Even as the
nation’s economy inches toward recovery, one in every 10
jobs yet to be recovered is from our local governments. The
American Rescue Plan advances us on the road to recovery,
honors our frontline heroes, and equips us to help end the
pandemic and drive
economic recovery. With the critical aid in this bill, we
will now be able to strengthen our communities by investing
in small businesses and nonprofits, vaccine distribution,
public health and safety, human services, especially for
those suffering from domestic violence, mental illnesses and
substance use disorders, and much-needed infrastructure,
including broadband. We look forward to the final passage in
the House and the President signing the bill into law. We
thank Leader Schumer, Speaker Pelosi and President Biden for
their leadership in support of counties. We are poised to
move forward and ultimately end this devastating pandemic
together.” [Press Release, 3/6/20]
Erika Polmar, Executive Director, Independent Restaurant
Coalition: “This is a decisive moment for the independent
restaurant and bar community. Independent restaurants and
bars came together at the beginning of the pandemic with the
hope that by working together for the first time, our
industry could make a big impact – and that’s what we did.
We proposed a grant program for restaurants, educated our
elected officials about the industry, built a movement, and
today we are proudly watching Congress send our plan to
President Biden’s desk. We are grateful to those in
Congress who made saving restaurants and bars a priority in
this relief package including Speaker Pelosi, Majority
Leader Schumer, Reps. Blumenauer and Fitzpatrick, and Sens.
Wicker and Sinema. These leaders know this is only a
downpayment, and will not stop fighting for neighborhood
restaurants and bars to receive the relief they need in the
months ahead.”
Jim Hoffa, General President, Teamsters: “For more than two
decades, Teamster members, retirees and officials have
worked tirelessly to make sure the hard-earned retirements
of its members are protected,” Hoffa said. “Now, as part of
this bill, more than 50 Teamster pension plans – including
its largest, the Central States Pension Fund – will be
eligible for assistance at the outset of the bill’s
enactment, with more of the union’s plans becoming eligible
in 2022.”
Lee Saunders, President, AFSCME: “Over the past year, our
nation’s mettle has truly been tested. Since the first day
COVID-19 began battering our communities, public service
workers – our nurses, first responders, sanitation workers,
child care providers, public safety workers and so many more
– have been on the front lines, putting their lives at risk
to beat back this pandemic. Yet for a year, the Senate and
the president did nothing to get our states, cities,
counties and schools the kind of aid needed to maintain
public services, as nearly 1.4 million of these front-line
heroes lost their jobs. With a new president and new
leadership in the United States Senate, help is finally on
the way for these everyday heroes whose work and expertise
are needed now more than ever to crush this virus. AFSCME
members fought for the American Rescue Plan not just to beat
COVID-19, but to jolt our economy by ensuring struggling
families keep their health insurance and receive a boost in
unemployment
insurance as well as direct checks to help make ends meet.
We thank Senator Schumer for his leadership and call on
Congress to get a bill to President Biden’s desk, so we can
finally fund the front lines.”
Matthew Shay, President and CEO, National Retail Federation:
“Ensuring that the American people are given the opportunity
to quickly and safely get vaccinated against COVID-19 is the
most critical component of the legislation passed today by
the Senate. We encourage the House to move quickly so that
the President can sign this signature piece of legislation
into law. The retail industry has been front and center
throughout this crisis and remains engaged by providing
vaccines to employees and consumers in communities they
serve across the country. While this legislation adds to the
historic and unprecedented level of fiscal stimulus enacted
during the past year, we continue to encourage targeted and
temporary fiscal support for those families, small
businesses and job creators hardest hit by the pandemic.”
Jason Oxman, President and CEO, Information Technology
Industry Council: “Digital technology will be essential to
ensuring that the U.S. is more resilient as it recovers from
the devastating COVID-19 pandemic and its economic impact.
The American Rescue Plan emphasizes the importance of
modernizing federal information technology and bolstering
governments’ cybersecurity. These investments in technology
infrastructure and tools are an important down payment on
helping to deliver modern and secure citizen services and
critical networks. We commend the U.S. Senate for
prioritizing this vital need and urge the U.S. House of
Representatives to approve the measure.”
Chip Rogers, President and CEO, American Hotel & Lodging
Association: “The American Rescue plan is a vital step
forward in helping small businesses stay open and protecting
jobs. It contains many necessary provisions AHLA has
advocated for to help put the hotel industry back on a path
to recovery. We applaud President Joe Biden for recognizing
that small businesses need more help to get through this
difficult time and we urge Congress to act immediately. By
bolstering the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and
allocating grants to hard hit small businesses, including
the leisure and hospitality sector, this legislation will
serve as a critical lifeline for hotels and other businesses
that have been decimated by the pandemic.” [Statement,
3/6/21]
Governors
Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont: "The Senate has now joined
the House in passing the Rescue Plan, which would bring
significant federal resources to support our state, our
municipalities, and schools and universities. This plan will
make sure that Connecticut has the opportunity to build back
better."
Illinois Governor JB Pritzker: "After dealing with financial
and health crises for over a year, families across Illinois
and America need real relief. That’s exactly what President
Joe Biden and Congress have finally provided with the
newly-passed American Rescue Plan."
Governor Tom Wolf: Thank you to Senator Bob Casey and all
the federal lawmakers who pushed for the American Rescue
Plan. Desperately needed aid is on the way for families,
businesses and communities in Pennsylvania. And additional
funding in the plan will also allow us to scale up vaccine
rollout.”
Mayors
Mayor Andy Ginther of Columbus, Ohio: "This is a big step
toward getting relief into the hands of the people. Now a
swift passage by the House is necessary."
Mayor Robert Garcia of Long Beach, California: "A huge thank
you to Resident Biden for proposing and getting the American
Rescue Plan done. You made a commitment to American cities
and you delivered. We can now get to work on real recovery
and build back better."
Mayor Regina Romero of Tucson, Arizona: "Thank you Senator
Kristen Sinema and Senator Mark Kelly for your advocacy to
advance the American Rescue Plan! This legislation is
absolutely critical to providing much needed relief to small
businesses, workers and families, and local governments.”
Mayor Todd Gloria of San Diego, California: This is great
news for San Diego. We are one step closer to getting
much-needed relief to jumpstart our recovery and help our
struggling neighbors. Thank you Senator Barbara Feinstein
and Senator Alex Padilla for advocating for this support. I
urge the House to swiftly pass this critical package.”
Mayor Rosalynn Bliss of Grand Rapids, Michigan: "Great news
for GR and cities across the country. Thank you Senator Gary
Peters and President Biden
Mayor Ted Wheeler of Portland, Oregon: "Mayors across the
nation applaud the Senate's support for the American Rescue
Plan Act of 2021, which includes critical relief for
households and businesses and support for cities and
counties to help their people and communities."
Senators
Georgia Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock:
"BREAKING NEWS: The Senate just passed the American Rescue
Plan! After months of waiting for substantive federal
relief, this bold legislation was exactly what Georgians had
in mind when they sent me to the Senate—and thanks to
Georgians, we're finally getting it done."
Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders: "The American Rescue Plan is
the most significant piece of legislation to benefit working
people in the modern history of this country."
Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren: "The American Rescue
Plan will make a real difference to get more Americans
vaccinated, safely reopen our schools, and help struggling
families make ends meet. I’m going to keep fighting for more
relief, and to raise the minimum wage to $15 an hour—because
our work is not done."
Delaware Senator Chris Coon: "In the American Rescue Plan,
I fought for $1 billion to bolster AmeriCorps’ engagement on
COVID-19 — from tutoring students to combat learning loss to
expanding capacity at food banks and handling logistics at
vaccination centers. With this AmeriCorps funding, we can
empower thousands of Americans who want to serve their
communities while meeting a host of urgent needs. This
investment is a down payment on our recovery that will
enable us to emerge stronger than ever.
Connecticut Senator Chris Murphy: "Little noticed but super
important provision of the American Rescue Plan: It
dramatically lowers premiums for ACA health plans. Caps
premiums at 8% of income, no premiums for anyone 150% of
poverty or below. That's HUGE. And so important in the
middle of the pandemic."
Illinois Senator Tammy Duckworth: "Fact: 76% of Americans,
including 60% of Republicans, support the American Rescue
Plan. Fact: Not 1 Republican Senator voted for the bill.
Fact: Democrats just approved:
* $1,400 direct payments
* Extended UI benefits
* Rental assistance
* Quicker vaccine distribution"
Nevada Senator Catherine Cortez Masto: "Help is on the way.
We just passed an emergency relief package that will deliver
for Nevadans and all Americans who are struggling. Read my
statement on the passage of the American Rescue Plan."
Ohio Senator Sherrod Brown: "The American Rescue Plan has
PASSED. Democrats promised: Shots in people’s arms Money in
people’s pockets Children in schools Workers in jobs We’re
following through on that promise."
Virginia Senator Mark Warner: "It’s a new day, and the vote
continues on the American Rescue Plan. No matter how long it
takes, we will get this done."
Oregon Senator Jeff Merkley: “Good news, America: Relief is
finally on the way. The American Rescue Plan is going to put
money in people’s pockets, vaccines in their arms, kids in
classrooms, and open signs on Main Street businesses. And
it’s not a moment too soon...Today’s vote means that kind of
relief is finally within sight—including stimulus checks;
extended unemployment insurance for the 20 million Americans
who are relying on the program and would otherwise lose it
at the end of next week; resources local governments need to
provide vital services; support for our frontline workers
and Main Streets; resources to safely help get students back
in the classroom; and a national strategy to make testing
easier and vaccines distributed as quickly as possible...”
New Jersey Senator Bob Menendez: “Today, Senate Democrats
delivered on our promise to act boldly and swiftly to end
this pandemic and send relief to the families, communities
and businesses hit hardest by COVID-19. The American Rescue
Plan will put the United States on a path to defeat this
virus once and for all and restore opportunity in our
economy for hardworking families all across the nation. With
this legislation, we have set the stage for the Biden
Administration to launch an aggressive national vaccination
campaign critical, not only to saving lives, but ultimately
to restoring the sense of normalcy families crave in every
corner of this country."
Vermont Senator Patrick Leahy: "... This afternoon, the
Senate met this crisis by passing bold and urgently needed
relief that was long overdue. While the distribution of
vaccines has finally begun to turn the page on the pandemic,
this crisis is far from over, and the American Rescue Plan
will provide the resources we need in the weeks and months
ahead. It provides new resources to state and local
governments, supports vaccine distribution, invests in
students’ safety, provides a targeted round of additional
support directly to qualifying Americans, and includes a
needed extension of unemployment benefits for the millions
of people who are still out of work through no fault of
their own...The American Rescue Plan supports American
families in every corner of the United States – whether
those states are represented by Republicans in the Senate,
or by Democrats. All will benefit from this bold plan."
Hawaii Senator Brian Schatz: "Because we won the 2020
elections we are passing this enormously popular, sweepingly
progressive, and urgently needed bill. People are still
vastly underestimating the positive impact that the American
Rescue Plan will have in communities across our country."
New York Senator Kirsten Gillibrand: "We're facing a hunger
crisis across America. The American Rescue Plan will extend
emergency SNAP assistance and the Pandemic EBT program. And
I successfully pushed for increased WIC vouchers for mothers
and children and $1 billion in nutrition assistance to
Puerto Rico."
Rhode Island Senator Sheldon Whitehouse: "I am proud to
stand with Democrats in the House and Senate in support of
the American Rescue Plan. It is a far-reaching and
long-overdue bill large enough to meet this historic moment
and set families, small businesses, and our country on the
road to recovery."
Representatives
Congressmember Val Demings: "We can’t call teachers “heroes”
while ignoring what they say. They need emergency resources
to make their classrooms safe to teach. We need the American
Rescue Plan to get children back to school and keep them and
school staff safe."
Congressmember Joe Neguse: "President Biden’s American
Rescue Plan will cut childhood poverty in the United States
in half.
Congressmember Madeline Dean: "Americans from *both* parties
support the American Rescue Plan to get:
* Money in pockets
* Shots in arms
* Children in schools
* Aid for State and Local Govts
Help is on the way."
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