Democrats Pass $1.9 Trillion American Rescue Plan
On Wednesday, Mar. 10, the Democratic-controlled House passed President Joe Biden’s $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief package ahead of a Sunday deadline when unemployment benefits expire. In conjunction with many other additional provisions, the immense bill, known as the “American Rescue Plan” allocates funding for school reopenings, unemployment programs, vaccine distribution, small businesses and poverty-reduction.
Republicans in the House and Senate have been vehemently opposed to the bill stating that it is far too large and would undermine efforts to reduce spending and cut the federal deficit.
The relief bill is indeed a behemoth. By comparison, the 2009 Recovery Act under President Barack Obama was only $831 billion and it was widely credited for, albeit slowly, kickstarting the United States’ emergence from the 2008 financial crisis. However, the bill has massive support across party lines with 70% or more support nationally in most polls.
Despite Republican opposition at the federal level, state and local Republican leaders like Gov. Jim Justice of West Virginia have voiced their support stating that the enormity of the relief package meets the enormity of the toll the COVID-19 pandemic has taken on the American people.
Examining the bill’s provisions, it’s easy to see how such a bill could have such bipartisan agreement by voters. The part of the bill most likely to be well-received includes $1,400 stimulus checks to every American adult making under $75,000 a year with an additional $1,400 for dependents. It also extends $300 per week nontaxable federal unemployment insurance through Sep. 6.
The American Rescue Plan also expands the child tax credit, gives $350 billion in state and local aid, $178 billion for reopening schools and higher education, $176 for vaccinations and health care, $109 billion for farmers, small businesses and other essential industries, $47 billion in FEMA disaster relief money, $40 billion in aid to renters and homeowners, $17 billion to restaurants and bars and $17 billion to veterans
Despite some setbacks to progressives (such as a lack of minimum wage provisions), in the eye of the overall party and other supporters of the bill, the American Rescue Plan “meets the moment” by focusing on getting aid to individuals rather than focusing on businesses like last year’s HEROES Act.
With wide bipartisan support among voters and the wide berth of issues it addresses, the White House sees the relief bill as the jumpstart needed for President Biden’s “Build Back Better” campaign promise.
Whether or not the bill truly accomplishes the revitalization intended by the Biden administration has yet to be seen. Nonetheless, it is only the first of many more expected legislative actions taken by Democrats to address the COVID-19 pandemic and the economic recession.