$1.9 trillion stimulus and health bill most significant for working and middle class families in U.S. history
Passage only possible with election of Ossoff & Warnock in Georgia
Free vaccines, stimulus checks, tax credits, billions to safely re-open Georgia’s public schools’ (full breakdown below)
An average working-class family of four will receive up to $8,200 in economic relief
$4 billion to safely re-open Georgia’s public schools; $2 billion for Medicaid expansion in Georgia
Washington, D.C. — This afternoon, Georgia Senators Jon Ossoff and Rev. Raphael Warnock cast decisive votes to pass the American Rescue Plan Act, a health and stimulus bill that is the most significant economic relief package for working- and middle-class families in American history — made possible only by their Georgia runoff victories just two months ago.
The $1.9 trillion legislation will ensure COVID-19 vaccines are free and available for every American, provide stimulus checks and tax credits worth thousands of dollars for working- and middle-class families, and deliver more than $4 billion to safely re-open Georgia’s public schools.
An average working family of four in Georgia making $75,000 a year with two young children will receive up to $8,200 in direct financial relief between the direct stimulus checks and the expanded Child Tax Credit (CTC).
The bill provides over $4 billion to Georgia’s public schools and $8 billion to state and local government in Georgia alone, double what Georgia received in the CARES Act — to save jobs, boost economic growth, and maintain vital public services.
Senators Ossoff and Warnock secured nearly $2 billion for Medicaid expansion in Georgia — a game changer for public health in the state.
After casting his vote, Sen. Ossoff released the following statement:
“This bill will provide thousands of dollars in direct economic relief for Georgia families, ensure every Georgian can get the COVID-19 vaccine for free, and send $4 billion to safely re-open Georgia’s schools. This is the most significant economic relief package for working- and middle-class families in American history. We will crush COVID-19, recover economically, safely re-open our schools, and get our daily lives back — and we’ll do it thanks to Georgia voters,” said Senator Ossoff.
Once signed into law by President Biden, the American Rescue Plan will deliver significant relief for Georgia:
ECONOMIC RELIEF FOR FAMILIES:
- $1,400 stimulus checks for individuals making up to $75,000 ($150,000 per household), with checks phasing out at $80,000 per individual ($160,000 per household)
- For the first time, adult dependents will also receive full $1,400 dependent checks
- The families of 1,042,000 Georgia children will now be eligible for additional relief of up to $3,000 per child ages 6 to 17 (and $3,600 for young children under the age of 6) through the expanded Child Tax Credit, lifting 171,000 children in Georgia out of poverty
- 572,000 childless workers in Georgia, including many frontline workers, will now be eligible for additional relief through the strengthened Earned Income Tax Credit — of which the maximum amount for workers without children is nearly tripled in this legislation
- $562 million in rental assistance for families
- $1.5 billion for child care assistance
- A $27 monthly increase in nutrition assistance for approximately 1,875,000 Georgians
SUPPORT FOR STATE & LOCAL GOVERNMENTS:
- $8.1 billion to the state of Georgia and direct funding for Georgia’s smaller cities, towns, and counties to help support first responders, vital public services, hospitals, and small businesses
COMBATTING COVID-19 ACROSS THE COUNTRY:
- $8.5 billion for rural hospitals
- $25.2 billion investment nationwide to address inequities in underserved communities and communities of color
- $47.8 billion for COVID-19 testing and contact tracing across the country
- $7.5 billion for vaccine administration and distribution
- $6.1 billion for vaccine and therapeutic development, manufacturing, and procurement
SAFELY RE-OPENING GEORGIA’S SCHOOLS:
- Over $4.5 billion in relief for K-12 schools in Georgia
- Over $27 million for Head Start in Georgia
- Over $249 million for E-Rate in Georgia
FUNDING GEORGIA’S TRANSIT SYSTEMS:
- Over $1.5 million for rural transit
- Over $395 million for the airport improvement program
- Urban Transit Funding:
- Albany: $1.5 million
- Athens-Clarke County: $7 million
- Atlanta: $308 million
- Augusta-Richmond County: $1.4 million
- Chattanooga: $11 million
- Columbus: $1.3 million
- Gainesville: $313,000
- Hinesville: $175,000
- Macon: $2 million
- Savannah: $12 million
- Rome: $924,000
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