In response to Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff traveling to Nebraska to highlight the benefits of the American Rescue Plan for Nebraskans, 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 Nebraskans and Americans across the country while taking bold action to defeat the coronavirus.
“Thanks to Congressional Democrats and President Biden, 843,000 direct checks for $1,400, millions of dollars for vaccine distribution, over $540 million for school reopenings and lower health care costs for thousands of Nebraskans will soon be available for Nebraskans 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 Nebraska 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 Rep. Don Bacon (R-NE-02) for voting against the bill.
BACKGROUND:
Fact Sheet: Nebraska & The American Rescue Plan
With the final passage of the American Rescue Plan, Nebraska will benefit from at least $5.1 billion in funding from the federal government. This amount includes money for direct stimulus checks for Nebraskans 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 843,000 Nebraskans 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 843,000 Nebraskans will receive these payments. In total, Nebraskans will receive about $2.3 billion.
The American Rescue Plan Will Expand Unemployment Benefits Through September, Benefitting Over 11 Million Americans, Including 9,499 Nebraskans
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 9,499 Nebraskans who will benefit from extended federal unemployment payments.
Nebraska Public Schools And Colleges Will Receive Millions 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, Nebraska will receive $546 million in K-12 school funding to ensure that schools can open up safely. Nebraska will also receive $211.8 million in funding for higher education.
The American Rescue Plans Provides $24 Billion To Assist Child Care Providers, Including $143 Million For Nebraska
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, Nebraska will receive $143 million from this fund, which could help alleviate soaring child care costs for Nebraska families.
The American Rescue Plan Provides Millions Of Dollars In Support For Head Start, Including $5.7 Million For Nebraska
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, Nebraska will receive $5.7 million for Head Start.
Nebraska’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 Nebraskans get vaccinated faster.
Nebraskans Will See $152 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, Nebraska will receive $152 million in emergency rental assistance funding.
The ARP’s Expanded Child Tax Credit Will Benefit 27 Million Children, Including 141,000 Nebraska Children, And Lift 4.1 Million Children, Including 18,000 Nebraska 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 141,000 Nebraska children and list 18,000 Nebraska children out of poverty. In total, 93 percent of Nebraska children will benefit from this expansion.
The American Rescue Plan Will Lower Healthcare Costs For Nebraskans Who Purchase Healthcare Through The Affordable Care Act’s Marketplace
The American Rescue Plan lowers the cost of premiums for Nebraskans 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 Nebraskans with an income of $120,000 would see savings of $1,385 a month, or $16,620 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.
Nebraska Will See $1.8 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, Nebraska and its localities will receive $1.8 billion in funding.