U.S. Rep. Newman (IL-03) Votes to Pass the American Rescue Plan to Deliver Critical Relief to Illinois Families and Small Businesses

WASHINGTON D.C. – Today, U.S. Representative Marie Newman (IL-03) voted to pass the American Rescue Plan, a historic stimulus package designed to crush the COVID-19 virus, rebuild our economy, launch a national vaccine campaign and provide Americans and small businesses with the critical relief they need and deserve.  

"Americans have been asking Washington for a historic and bold relief package that meets the enormity of the challenges we face. President Biden's American Rescue Plan lives up to that vision by putting shots in arms, money in pockets, children in schools and people in jobs," said Congresswoman Marie Newman. "This comprehensive relief package is what we need to not only put an end to this public health crisis but also reignite our local economies, keep our small businesses open and put Americans back to work. Not only is this relief plan practical - it's popular, with major support from Democrat and Republican voters. I couldn't be prouder to support and pass this landmark legislation." 

Overview of Some of the Various Key Provisions in the Bill 

• Survival Checks: In December, Congress enacted a COVID-19 relief package that provided a direct payment of $600 per person.  The American Rescue Plan Act builds on that down payment, providing another $1,400 per person. 
• Establishing a National Vaccine Campaign: The American Rescue Plan will provide more than $20 billion to establish a national COVID-19 Vaccination Program, with approx. $275 million going to Illinois to boost the state’s vaccination rate. 
• Investments in States, Cities and Municipalities: The bill provides $360 billion for new Coronavirus Relief Funds for states, localities, the U.S. Territories, and the Tribal Governments, including to help keep critical workers on the job. In total, municipalities across Illinois will receive $13.7 billion as part of the legislation passed today. 
• Expanding Child Tax Credit and Cutting Child Poverty in Half: The bill passed today makes the child tax credit fully refundable for 2021 and increases the annual amount from the current $2,000 per child to $3,000 per child ($3,600 for a child under age 6).  Currently, because the child tax credit is not fully refundable, there are 27 million American children who do not receive the full value of the current $2,000 tax credit because their parents do not earn enough money. A study by Columbia University found that such a proposal would cut the child poverty rate in the United States in half. 
• Supports for Small Businesses: The plan will provide crucial support for the hardest-hit small businesses, especially those owned by entrepreneurs from racial and ethnic backgrounds that have experienced systemic discrimination, with EIDL grants, expanded PPP eligibility. Additionally, the bill will provide relief for the Shuttered Venues Operators Grant Program and will provide critical resources to community navigators who assist small businesses. In total, the package invests more than $50 billion into America’s small businesses, with $28.6 billion going directly to restaurants.  
• Supports for Transit/Airline Workers: National transit ridership plummeted 79% in 2020 as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. This bill includes $30 billion for transit agencies across the country to prevent, prepare and respond to the continued threat of the pandemic. As part of that funding, $71.5 million will be invested into Midway Airport and $1.5 billion will go towards Illinois transportation workers to ensure employees are supported throughout this pandemic and service can be fully restored in the coming months.  
• Put Children Safely Back in School: The plan will make a more than $130 billion investment in school re-opening and making up for lost time in the classroom. These funds can be used for such things as reducing class sizes, modifying spaces so that students and teachers can socially distance, improving ventilation, implementing more mitigation measures, providing personal protective equipment, and providing summer school or other support for students that help make up lost learning time this year. 

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