In response to President Biden traveling to Ohio today to highlight the benefits of the American Rescue Plan for Ohioans, Protect Our Care’s Coronavirus War Room Director Zac Petkanas released the following statement:
“With the historic American Rescue Plan signed into law, President Biden did exactly what he promised he’d do: get direct relief to Ohioans and Americans across the country while taking bold action to defeat the coronavirus.
“Thanks to Congressional Democrats and President Biden, 5.4 million direct checks for $1,400, millions of dollars for vaccine distribution, $4.5 billion for school reopenings and lower health care costs for thousands of Ohioans will soon be available for Ohioans who need it most.
“While President Biden, Vice President Harris and the entire Biden Administration make a full-court press to educate Americans about how the American Rescue Plan will deliver direct relief, every Republican member of the Ohio congressional delegation will be forced to defend their decision to vote against the bill that is getting money into pockets, shots into arms and kids back to the classroom.”
Recently, Protect Our Care launched a new digital ad campaign to thank Democrats for voting for the American Rescue Plan. The campaign also included ads criticizing Republican lawmakers including Steve Chabot (R-OH-01) for voting against the bill.
BACKGROUND:
Fact Sheet: Ohio & The American Rescue Plan
With the final passage of the American Rescue Plan, Ohio will benefit from at least $32.2 billion in funding from the federal government. This amount includes money for direct stimulus checks for Ohioans as well as funding to open schools safely, fund child care, ramp up vaccinations and testing, provide rental assistance, cut health care costs, and provide state and local aid.
The American Rescue Plan’s Stimulus Payments Will Help 5.4 million Ohioans Who Are Facing The Pandemic’s Economic Fallout
The American Rescue Plan includes direct stimulus payments of $1,400. According to the Congressional Research Service, about 5.4 million Ohioans will receive these payments. In total, Ohioans will receive about $14.0 billion.
The American Rescue Plan Will Expand Unemployment Benefits Through September, Benefitting Over 11 Million Americans, Including 464,940 Ohioans
The American Rescue Plan will extend federal unemployment benefits through September, including for self-employed or contract workers and adds a $300-a-week federal supplement to state unemployment insurance payments. According to the Century Foundation, 11.4 million Americans will benefit from this provision of the American Rescue Plan, including 464,940 Ohioans who will benefit from extended federal unemployment payments.
Ohio Public Schools And Colleges Will Receive Billions In Needed Funding From The American Rescue Plan To Open Safely
The American Rescue Plan includes $170 billion for K-12 and higher education, including $130 billion to enable K-12 schools to open safely during the pandemic. Another $35 billion will go toward higher education, including financial assistance for students. The remaining $5 billion will go to governors to use for any level of education in their states. According to the Congressional Research Service, Ohio will receive $4.5 billion in K-12 school funding to ensure that schools can open up safely. Ohio will also receive $1.1 billion in funding for higher education.
The American Rescue Plans Provides $24 Billion To Assist Child Care Providers, Including $802 Million For Ohio
The American Rescue Plan also creates a $24 billion fund to assist child care providers in financial distress, including those facing costs to improve safety amid the pandemic. According to the Congressional Research Service, Ohio will receive $802 million from this fund, which could help alleviate soaring child care costs for Ohio families.
The American Rescue Plan Provides Millions Of Dollars In Support For Head Start, Including $39.7 Million For Ohio
The American Rescue Plan provides $1 billion in funding for Head Start, a program that provides early childhood services to low-income families. According to the Congressional Research Service, Ohio will receive $39.7 million for Head Start.
Ohio’s Vaccine And Testing Operation Will Ramp Up Significantly With Additional Funds
The American Rescue Plan devotes $16 billion to a national vaccination program in partnership with states, localities, tribes and territories and includes $50 billion to buy rapid tests, expand lab capacity, and help schools and local governments conduct more tests. This funding will help Ohioans get vaccinated faster.
Ohioans Will See $614 Million In Emergency Rental Assistance From The American Rescue Plan
The American Rescue Plan extends the eviction and foreclosure moratorium through September and includes $25 billion to help renters and small landlords with back rent and $5 billion for paying energy and water bills. According to Senate Democrats, Ohio will receive $614 million in emergency rental assistance funding.
The ARP’s Expanded Child Tax Credit Will Benefit 27 Million Children, Including 948,000 Ohio Children, And Lift 4.1 Million Children, Including 132,000 Ohio Children, Out Of Poverty
The American Rescue Plan includes an expansion of the Child Tax Credit that will cut child poverty by more than 40 percent. The plan makes the full Child Tax Credit available to children in families with low earnings and would increase the credit’s maximum amount to $3,000 per child and $3,600 for children under 6. According to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, this expansion will benefit 948,000 Ohio children and list 132,000 Ohio children out of poverty. In total, 92 percent of Ohio children will benefit from this expansion.
The American Rescue Plan Will Lower Healthcare Costs For Ohioans Who Purchase Healthcare Through The Affordable Care Act’s Marketplace
The American Rescue Plan lowers the cost of premiums for Ohioans purchasing coverage through the ACA marketplace, ensuring enrollees have the option to purchase health care for less than 8.5 percent of their income for the next two years. For instance, according to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, a family of four Ohioans with an income of $120,000 would see savings of $349 a month, or $4,188 a year, under the American Rescue plan. The American Rescue Plan also provides robust financial incentives for the 14 states that have not yet implemented Medicaid expansion.
Ohio Will See $11.2 Billion In State And Local Aid From The American Rescue Plan
The American Rescue Plan includes $350 billion in state and local funding. According to Senate Democrats, Ohio and its localities will receive $11.2 billion in funding.