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McCollum: Democrats Deliver on Promise to Families and Businesses with Final Passage of American Rescue Plan

March 10, 2021

With COVID Health, Economic Crisis Raging, House Republicans Unanimously Vote to Abandon the American People

Congresswoman Betty McCollum (DFL-Minn.) issued the following statement today following the House passage of the American Rescue Plan, which will now be sent to President Biden's desk to be signed into law:

"Democrats delivered today for every American family, business, and community struggling and suffering as a result of the COVID pandemic," McCollum said. "This historic and life-saving bill – the direct result of leadership from President Biden and my House colleagues – will directly address this unprecedented crisis by putting families, children, and workers first. This investment is essential to beating the pandemic, jumpstarting our economic recovery, and ensuring students can safely get back into the classroom – so that our families and communities can Build Back Better. This rescue package meets the needs of those I represent in the Fourth District and the needs of the American people.

"What is also clear to the American people – and no one should ever forget – during this terrible moment of crisis for our nation, every Republican elected official in the U.S. House and the U.S. Senate voted against this rescue legislation, abandoning the families, school children, seniors, business owners, and health care workers who are looking to Congress for help. It is a shameful display of callous insensitivity. It would seem that without provisions to exclusively benefit millionaires and billionaires, they could find no reason to help our fellow citizens."

Highlights of the American Rescue Plan:

  • Speeds up COVID vaccine distribution and expands testing and contact tracing;
  • Extends federal unemployment benefits;
  • Provides direct payments of $1,400 per person for many individuals;
  • Replenishes small business relief programs like the Paycheck Protection Program;
  • Cuts child poverty rate by 50% by expanding fully refundable child tax credit and making it available to 27 million children in America's poorest families;
  • Helps families put food on the table and keep a roof over their head, provides funding for affordable child care, and makes the child tax credit fully refundable;
  • Supports local governments by giving them the help they need to pay for police, firefighters, first responders, frontline health care workers, and public transit operators, so they can remain on the job serving our communities. Here at home in Minnesota's Fourth Congressional District, the plan provides significant support for our townships and our cities, including approximately:
    • $172 million for the City of St. Paul;
    • $6 million for the City of Woodbury;
  • Provides support for our families and seniors who rely on Ramsey and Washington County for critical services – approximately:
    • $107 million for Ramsey County;
    • $51 million for Washington County;
  • Provides approximately $300 million in aid for our school districts to help reopen schools while prioritizing safety for students, teachers, and faculty

A summary prepared by the House Budget Committee can be found here.