State and local officials from across the United States continue to highlight President Joe Biden’s American Rescue Plan (ARP) for providing critical relief to states and localities struggling in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic.
Due to gaping budget shortfalls as a result of the pandemic, state and local governments were forced to deal massive blows to the public sector, suffering nearly three times more job cuts than occurred in state and local government employment during the Great Recession.
By distributing nearly $350 billion to state and local governments, the ARP is helping these governments deliver much-needed relief to the communities they serve, including by filling in budget holes, restoring cuts made because of the recession, and continuing to provide and build on key services to meet the public’s needs over the next few years. See how much communities nationwide are getting from the ARP here.
Check out the Center for American Progress Action Fund’s weekly roundups below to see how state and local officials are using that funding to help the people they represent:
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- July 30, 2021: “Help Is Here Roundup: Federal, State, and Local Officials Praise American Rescue Plan as Provisions Spur Record Drop in Poverty”
A new analysis shows that ARP programs contribute to reducing the expected number of poor Americans by nearly 20 million compared with 2018 levels, Michigan announces $100 million in ARP funds for affordable housing investments, and Virginia announces plans for clean water and school air quality investments using ARP funding.
- July 22, 2021: “Help Is Here Roundup: Federal, State, and Local Officials Continue to Highlight Child Tax Credit and Other American Rescue Plan Provisions”
The IRS distributes more than $15 billion in child tax credit payments, Virginia announces $700 million in ARP funding to expand access to broadband, and the National Endowment for the Arts announces $135 million in ARP funding dedicated to assisting nonprofit culture organizations and local art agencies that suffered during the pandemic.
- July 16, 2021: “Help Is Here Roundup: Federal, State, and Local Officials Highlight Child Tax Credit Rollout and Other American Rescue Plan Provisions”
The IRS distributes its first round of child tax credit payments; the U.S. Health and Human Services Department announces $398 million in ARP funds for small rural hospitals for COVID-19 testing and mitigation; and Jackson, Mississippi, spends $31 million in recovery funds on water and sewer upgrades.
- July 9, 2021: “Help Is Here Roundup: Officials from Both Parties Highlight American Rescue Plan Funding for Their Communities”
Kentucky gets $4 billion in ARP funding, Michigan uses $150 million to invest in state parks, and Massachusetts schools receive $611.3 million to help schools reopen and address post-pandemic needs.
- July 2, 2021: “Help Is Here Roundup: American Rescue Plan Continues to Fund Key Programs and Relief for Communities, Praised by State and Local Officials”
Puerto Rico gets $4 billion in pandemic relief, Firefighters in Houston, Texas receive an 18 percent raise thanks to ARP funding, and $6.5 million in ARP funds are used to help the homeless in Pensacola, Florida.
- June 28, 2021: “Help Is Here Roundup: American Rescue Plan Funding Praised by State and Local Officials, Used to Bolster Communities and Families”
Local Airports across America get $8 billion in COVID relief, 1.4 million in Washington State expected to benefit from upcoming Child Tax Credits, and Maryland Head Start Programs get more than $10 million in American Rescue Plan funding.
- June 17, 2021: “Help Is Here Roundup: American Rescue Plan Funds Hailed by State and Local Officials, Used to Bolster Communities and Families”
Thirteen states get $250 million in ARP funding for public transit projects; the U.S. Department of Agriculture announces $4 billion in ARP funds for investment in the nation’s food system; and Oklahoma gets $590 million in ARP funding to invest in child care.
- June 11, 2021: “Help Is Here Roundup: American Rescue Plan Funds Provide Relief to State Budgets, Earn Praise from Local Officials”
San Diego County uses ARP funding to give hazard pay to essential workers, a North Carolina family saves $800 per month on health care costs thanks to the ARP’s funding toward the Affordable Care Act exchange, and the IRS announces nearly 36 million families qualify for the monthly child tax credits that start to go out this June.
- June 8, 2021: “Help Is Here Roundup: Federal, State, and Local Officials Continue Praising American Rescue Plan Benefits”
Officials praise a study showing food shortages fell by 42 percent in 2021 thanks to the American Rescue Plan, Illinois university presidents plan to spend $146 million ARP funds to help students stay in school, and $14 million in Virginia will be used to address gaps in learning loss from the pandemic.
- June 1, 2021: “Help Is Here Roundup: Federal, State, and Local Officials Continue Touting American Rescue Plan Benefits”
The Biden administration announces $4.8 billion in ARP funding for COVID-19 testing access for 29 million uninsured U.S. residents, Philadelphia school districts receive $1.2 billion, and New Jersey uses $6.7 million to support veterans during the pandemic.
- May 24, 2021: “Help Is Here Roundup: Federal, State, and Local Officials Continue to Praise American Rescue Plan Benefits”
Officials praise $105 billion in ARP funding already distributed to states and cities and $3 billion for state mental health programs, and North Carolina uses $575 million in ARP funding to address affordable housing as well as $30 million for repairs and infrastructure for the state’s economically vital NASCAR tracks.
- May 17, 2021: “Federal, State, and Local Officials Hail Distribution of American Rescue Plan Funding”
Officials praise $36 billion in funds made available this week by the Department of Education from the ARP for struggling students and institutions affected by the pandemic, including $471 million for Arizona schools, $171 million for Seattle-area colleges, and $790 million in ARP funds heading to cities, counties, and colleges in Virginia’s Hampton Roads area.
- May 7, 2021: “Bipartisan Federal, State, and Local Officials Highlight Critical American Rescue Plan Provisions”
Officials from both parties praise the opening of the Restaurant Revitalization Fund; 100,000 Connecticut residents see reduced Affordable Care Act insurance premiums; and Maryland uses $727 million to restore access to free or reduced-price meals at schools for more than 530,000 students.
- April 30, 2021: “Federal, State, and Local Officials Hail American Rescue Plan Allocations for Critical Constituent Programs”
Colorado uses $5 billion in ARP funds for homelessness relief; D.C. gets $1.8 billion for schools; and West Virginia uses $25 million for food assistance.
- April 22, 2021: “Federal, State, and Local Officials Continue to Tout Relief Provided by American Rescue Plan Funding”
Nevada gets $361 million in federal child care grants, Luzerne County school districts in Pennsylvania get $200 million, and Ohio Sen. Sherrod Brown (D) and Labor Secretary Marty Walsh pen an op-ed advocating investments in the working class and retirees.
- April 15, 2021: “Federal, State, and Local Officials Continue to Highlight Relief Provided by American Rescue Plan Funding”
Connecticut gets $1.1 billion in COVID-19 stimulus funds for K-12 schools, Wisconsin uses $100 million for economic recovery, and aviation jobs in Wichita, Kansas, get new life.
- April 8, 2021: “Federal, State, and Local Officials Highlight American Rescue Plan Benefits”
Rep. Lauren Underwood (D-IL) touts the ARP’s Affordable Care Act subsidies, Rhode Island uses $23 million for affordable housing, and Vermont gets $33 million for community health centers.
- March 31, 2021: “State and Local Officials Run With American Rescue Plan”
Oregon Gov. Kate Brown (D) announces her plan to use $6.4 billion for economic recovery, two Texas mayors pen an op-ed on relief to Dallas and Fort Worth, and Georgia public schools get $3.8 billion.