Yarmuth-Authored American Rescue Plan Sent to President Biden’s Desk

Chairman Yarmuth introduced and shepherded the $1.9 trillion package through Congress over the last month, which will provide urgently needed resources to boost vaccine production and distribution, safely reopen our schools, put money into families’ pockets, and help get people back to work.

“This is a monumental day for this Congress and for the American people,” said Yarmuth. “We have passed the American Rescue Plan and are sending it to President Biden’s desk to be signed into law. This aggressive plan will save lives and help defeat this pandemic once and for all. It will provide economic relief to nearly every American family and hard-working individual, get vaccines into the arms of millions of Americans, and get our schools open safely. We will cut child poverty in half because of this bill and generate a strong and inclusive economic recovery. This is a lifesaving and life-changing turning point in our nation’s fight against COVID-19. Today, we met this historic crisis with historic progress.”

“Today is an historic day for the people of Kentucky and all Americans, as the House passes the American Rescue Plan and sends it to President Biden’s desk for his signature,” said Speaker Nancy Pelosi.  “This life-saving, jobs-creating plan puts shots in people’s arms, money in their pockets, children safely back in school and workers back in jobs, and it would not have been possible without the masterful leadership and proven expertise of Budget Committee Chairman John Yarmuth. Thanks to Chairman Yarmuth’s values-based work constructing this robust legislation, Congressional Democrats can finally assure the American people that Help Is On The Way.”

The bill will provide $1,400 direct payments to hundreds of millions of Americans, funds $350 billion in aid to state and local governments, $130 billion investment in reopening schools safely, and more than $20 billion to ramp up vaccine production and distribution. The measure also includes an additional $300 in weekly jobless benefits extended through September, a restructuring of the Child Tax Credit of up to $3,600 per family, and an expansion of the Earned Income Tax Credit to put money back in the pockets of people who need it.

For Kentucky, the state and local government aid will amount to an estimated:

• $4.24 billion in total funding for state and local governments in Kentucky, including:
  • $2.44 billion in State funding to help fight the coronavirus pandemic and its devastating economic impacts statewide.
  • $866 million in County funding distributed among the Commonwealth’s 120 counties.
  • $444 million in Metro City funding to ensure that cities with more than 50,000 residents can meet ongoing health and economic needs.
  • $306 million in Municipal funding to be distributed across cities and towns with populations of less than 50,000 residents, helping provide relief to every corner of the Commonwealth.
  • $185 million in Capital Projects funding to support projects directly enabling work, education, and health monitoring, including remote options, in response to the public health emergency.

In Louisville, the local relief will amount to an estimated $433 million in total funding, with $285 million of it going to the City of Louisville in Metro City funding and an additional $148 million to Jefferson County in County funding—all to support critical local government functions on the front lines of the pandemic.

“I’ve kept in close contact with Governor Beshear and Mayor Fischer throughout the crafting of American Rescue Plan to ensure that it matches and responds to what is needed on the ground in Louisville and across the Commonwealth,” added Yarmuth. “It’s hard to overstate the tremendous impact this legislation will have in our communities. More than 90 percent of Kentuckians will receive direct payments. Billions of dollars will be used to open Kentucky schools safely and to make up for lost time in the classroom. We will have the resources needed to not only rebuild our local economy, but to do it in way that will make us stronger than before the pandemic hit.  But most importantly, we will save lives.”

Kentucky will also see a major federal investment in education in this legislation, helping to reopen our schools safely and put students back on track. The package will provide Kentucky with:

• $2.15 billion in K-12 funding to give Kentucky’s schools the resources they need to reopen safely for in-person instruction and address significant impact of the pandemic on students’ education and well-being.
• $766 million in Child Care funding to help Kentucky providers keep their doors open and reduce childcare costs for struggling families.
• $454 million in Higher Education funding, ensuring that at least half of the funding Kentucky’s institutions receive will be distributed to students in the form of emergency grants to prevent hunger, homelessness, and other hardships caused by COVID-19.
• $17.8 million in Head Start funding to help Kentucky maintain access to services for children and families.