Washington, DC — Today, Rep. Lucy McBath (GA-06) voted to send relief directly to the American people with the passage of H.R. 1319, the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021. The comprehensive package provides vital support to a nation grappling with twin pandemic and economic crises, and now heads to the President’s desk for signature. McBath and the Georgia Delegation spoke about the package this morning, and McBath’s remarks can be seen here.

We stand here today after a year of grief and pain in America. A year our nation lost half a million people to this virus. A year that caused economic hardship for hard-working families. A year that upended the lives of every single American. pic.twitter.com/0mJMbereLY

— Rep. Lucy McBath (@RepLucyMcBath) March 10, 2021

“Each story of life and love left behind gives us reason to keep up the fight against COVID-19,” said McBath. “Families across our nation have lost loved ones and continue to feel the heartbreaking loss that this pandemic has caused, while small business owners and workers need our support to rebuild their businesses and get back to work. The American Rescue Plan will deliver life-saving vaccines, invest in our schools so children and teachers can safely return to in-person learning, and provide relief and stimulus checks to those who need them most. This help is vital, and I was proud to cast my vote to deliver support to our friends and neighbors.”

The American Rescue Plan includes H.R. 942, the Pandemic Health Care Improvement Act, legislation introduced by McBath and Rep. Linda T. Sánchez (CA-38). The bill expands Affordable Care Act Exchange premium tax benefits to individuals on unemployment insurance (UI) during 2021.

Among its many provisions, the package also:

• Provides an additional direct payment of $1,400 per person to working families.
• Expands the Child Tax Credit to $3,600 per child under the age of 6 help alleviate the impacts of poverty for nearly 27 million American children. The now fully refundable credit will cut child poverty in America in half.
• Increases Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) Funding and expands eligibility for 501(c) nonprofits.
• Supports service members by ensuring veterans do not have copays or cost-sharing for preventative treatment or services related to COVID-19 in the last year.
• Establishes a national COVID-19 vaccination program and scales up testing, contact tracing, and mitigation to contain the virus.
• Provides nearly $130 billion to help K-12 schools safely re-open and return to in-person learning.
• Extends unemployment benefits currently set to expire March 14.
• Expands health coverage and making health care more affordable for the American people.
• Provides $27.5 Billion for Emergency Rental Assistance to ensure families have a safe place to live.
• Invests vital aid in a strained child care system through the Child Care & Development Block Grant.