WASHINGTON – Today, Representative Chrissy Houlahan (D-PA) voted to pass the American Rescue Plan, a comprehensive relief bill aimed at containing the COVID-19 virus, increasing vaccines, accelerating the safe reopening of schools and businesses, uplifting vulnerable Pennsylvanians and providing direct support to our community’s small businesses. The bill is now headed to President Biden’s desk for signature.

“Today marks a major turning point in our fight against the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Houlahan. “The American Rescue Plan will help tens of thousands of Pennsylvanians, and I’m proud to have helped secure provisions that will directly uplift our community: stimulus checks, increased support for small businesses, aid for state and local governments to accelerate vaccine distribution, funds for our schools to both safely and quickly reopen, enhanced unemployment for Pennsylvanians who have lost their jobs through no fault of their own, support for our childcare centers so parents can go back to work knowing their children are safe and more. This is the relief our Commonwealth so desperately needs to weather the last stage of this crisis, to reopen and to rebuild.”

The American Rescue Plan includes:

• Crucial support for the hardest-hit small businesses, particularly the smallest of small businesses, with EIDL grants, expanded PPP eligibility and more;
• A national vaccination program that includes setting up community vaccination sites nationwide;
• A nearly $130 billion investment in school re-opening and making up for lost learning;
• Direct cash relief: the bill will complete the promised $2,000 stimulus, following up the $600 checks from December with new $1,400 checks per Pennsylvanian;
• Direct housing assistance and nutrition assistance for 40 million Americans;
• Supporting 27 million children with an expanded Child Tax Credit and 15 million low-wage workers through the Earned Income Tax Credit; 
• An infusion of $40 billion into the childcare industry to help centers stay open and help families pay for care;
• Paid family and medical leave for federal workers and paid leave tax credits to help more women stay in the workforce;
• Vital resources to protect the jobs of first responders, frontline public health workers, teachers, transit workers and other essential workers.

Houlahan is an Air Force veteran, an engineer, a serial entrepreneur, an educator and a nonprofit leader. She represents Pennsylvania’s 6th Congressional District, which encompasses Chester County and southern Berks County. She serves on the House Armed Services Committee, the House Foreign Affairs Committee and the House Small Business Committee.

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