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Providing for Consideration of H.R. American Rescue Plan Act of 2021

Floor Speech

Date: Feb. 26, 2021
Location: Washington, DC
Issues: Government Operations Health and Health Care

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Mr. PERLMUTTER. Madam Speaker, I rise today to support the rule and the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021.

The COVID-19 pandemic has cost the lives of over 500,000 Americans-- more than all the casualties of World War I, World War II, and the Vietnam war combined. Millions more have been infected and are recovering from the virus. Our economy has lost more than 10 million jobs. Countless businesses have failed or are at risk of failing. So our job today in Congress is to move quickly to address the physical, emotional, and financial health of all Americans. We can accomplish all three of these priorities through passage of the American Rescue Plan.

I want to touch on a few of the provisions included in this package. First, our State and local governments, firefighters, police, transportation workers, and healthcare providers have been on the front lines of the pandemic, supporting their communities by developing testing capabilities, supporting vulnerable populations, and now deploying the vaccines as quickly as possible.

I am glad this bill includes $350 billion for State and local governments all across the country.

We also need to work quickly to extend expiring unemployment programs, which expire on March 14. We saw what happened when Senator McConnell paused last year, and Coloradans are still struggling to receive the benefits they are owed.

This legislation will invest $130 billion to support K-12 schools as they work to return to in-person learning and help students catch up. It will also include $40 billion in rental and housing assistance. In the last month, Colorado has seen a record amount of requests for rental assistance.

The time for action is now. President Biden is laser focused on delivering relief to all Americans, and I am proud of his leadership so we can provide this needed assistance as we vaccinate more people each day. America needs this, America wants this, and they are going to get it.

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