Pam Taylor
We’re driving forward to a better America. The American Rescue Act, signed by President Joe Biden on March 11, sent $1,400 payments to most Americans. It expanded and extended pandemic unemployment assistance. Federal pandemic unemployment compensation and COBRA subsidies were also extended. The first $10,200 in 2020 unemployment benefits is tax-free for families making $150,000 or less.
The act provides money for housing, including $5 billion to help homeless people. It extended the SNAP benefits increase, included increases in the WIC program, and raised the child-care tax credit. There’s money for elder and child care and rural health-care providers. Multi-employer pension plans were stabilized. More people qualify, and will pay less, for high-quality Affordable Care Act health insurance.