Schneider Statement Ahead of House Passing the American Rescue Plan to Combat COVID-19

WASHINGTON – Today, Congressman Schneider released the following statement ahead of the Friday evening passage of the American Rescue Plan:

"Today, the House will pass urgently needed COVID relief for millions of struggling Americans. Across our country, families and friends have tragically had to say good-bye to more than 500,000 loved ones, too often knowing they died alone or in the care of strangers. In our communities, large and small, more than 18 million Americans are receiving unemployment benefits as their only lifeline, many out of work for more than six months. Millions of small businesses are on the brink of permanent closure, and millions of students are still learning remotely as their schools struggle to reopen.

President Biden's American Rescue Plan, which we will send to the Senate today, will get people back to work, help parents safely send their children back to school, help our families pay their bills and our small businesses build their future. This bill assists people and businesses in every community in Illinois and every state in America, which is why it has such broad bipartisan support across the country.

To truly heal our economy and unite our nation, we must pass the American Rescue Plan. I am proud to vote alongside my colleagues today to vote yes on this important bill."

The American Rescue Plan will provide checks of $1,400 per person in direct assistance to households. The plan will also mount a national vaccination program that includes setting up community vaccination sites nationwide. It will scale up contact tracing and COVID-19 testing, address shortages of personal protective equipment and address health care disparities. President Biden's proposal will also provide support for small businesses by expanding PPP eligibility and targeting those owned by entrepreneurs from racial and ethnic backgrounds.

The full text of the American Rescue Plan is available here.