March 04, 2021

CASTEN, DINGELL, SCHAKOWSKY, NEWMAN HOLD PRESS CONFERENCE ON THEIR WORK TO GET $1,400 RESCUE CHECKS TO MIDWESTERNERS

Downers Grove, IL – U.S. Representatives Sean Casten (IL-06), Debbie Dingell (MI-12), Jan Schakowsky (IL-09), and Marie Newman (IL-03) today held a press conference after they passed the American Rescue Plan in the House last week to help crush the COVID-19 virus and get the economy moving again with shots in arms, money in pockets, children in schools and people in jobs.

  • The American Rescue Plan will get money in the pockets of Midwesterners with rescue checks of up to $1,400 for individuals. Combined with the $600 down payments enacted in December, these additional checks will finish the job on Democrats' promise to put $2,000 in Americans' pockets.
  • It will also extend pandemic-related unemployment benefits so that 18 million American workers can pay their bills.
  • And it will help keep people in their homes and apartments with housing assistance; put food on tables with nutrition assistance for 40 million Americans; support 27 million children with an expanded Child Tax Credit and support more than 17 million low-wage workers through an improved Earned Income Tax Credit; and lower health care costs to help families stay covered in the pandemic.

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"We are confronting a generational challenge, and we need to meet the urgency of this moment," said Congresswoman Dingell. "By putting money in people's pockets, shots in arms, and students in schools, we can bring an end to this pandemic, but we cannot wait another day to act. Congressional Democrats and the Biden-Harris Administration understand the pain and suffering in our communities and we will not rest until we provide relief to the children, workers, and businesses who deserve it."

"The American Rescue Plan Act puts money in people's pockets. The bill provides $1400 in direct stimulus payments; $3600 in tax credits for children under 6; and $3000 for other children up to 17 years old. It extends unemployment benefits, helps small businesses, and funds vaccine distribution," said Congresswoman Schakowsky. "Our states, counties, cities, and municipalities are also in crisis – starving for aid just to cover their most immediate needs and close massive budget shortfalls brought on by this pandemic. In Illinois, we see cities, counties, and towns whose health care systems, emergency services, sanitation, water treatment, schools, and other essential public services are on the verge of collapse. In Chicago alone, we're facing a $1.2 billion shortfall for fiscal year ‘21 as a direct result of this pandemic."

"The devastation facing Americans right now is unlike anything we as a nation have faced. The fact is, we cannot rescue our economy without defeating the virus that's now killed more Americans than WWI, WWII, and Vietnam combined. Communities across Illinois are at the brink of collapse and cannot afford any more delays. It's long past time for Congress to pass a relief package sufficient to assist our local communities through this crisis. After weeks of fighting tirelessly for state and local relief alongside local mayors and municipal leaders from both sides of the aisle, the relief bill we passed will provide Illinois with $13.2 billion to fund the essential public services we all rely on as citizens and as taxpayers—from vaccine distribution to our firefighters, first responders, public health workers and other folks we depend on to keep our communities up and running every day," said Congressman Casten.

"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 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 this landmark legislation."

THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN: SHOTS IN ARMS, MONEY IN POCKETS, CHILDREN IN SCHOOLS AND PEOPLE IN JOBS

  • Put Vaccines in Arms: The plan will mount a national vaccination program that includes setting up community vaccination sites nationwide. It will also take complementary measures to combat the virus, including scaling up testing and tracing, addressing shortages of personal protective equipment and other critical supplies, investing in high-quality treatments and addressing health care disparities.
  • Put Children Safely Back in School: The plan will make a nearly $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. The plan also provides resources for higher education, Head Start and childcare facilities.
  • Put Money in People's Pockets: The plan finishes the job on the President's promise to provide $2,000 in direct assistance to households across America with checks of $1,400 per person, following the $600 down payment enacted in December. The plan will also provide direct housing assistance, nutrition assistance for 40 million Americans, expand access to safe and reliable childcare and affordable health care, extend and expand Unemployment Insurance so that 18 million American workers can pay their bills and supporting 27 million children with an expanded Child Tax Credit and more than 17 million low-wage workers through an improved Earned Income Tax Credit.
  • Put People Back In Jobs: 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 and more. The plan also provides crucial resources to protect the jobs of first responders, frontline public health workers, teachers, transit workers and other essential workers that all Americans depend on.

The American Rescue Plan passed the House last week and has been sent to the Senate for consideration.

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