Trenton Bureau
The $1.9 trillion federal stimulus plan that became law Thursday includes over $25 billion for the Garden State to continue unemployment benefits, expand rental assistance and prop up governments and residents with direct payments.
President Joe Biden signed the massive economic recovery plan, known as the American Rescue Plan Act, on Thursday, just days before key unemployment programs which have propped up more than 1.5 million New Jerseyans during the pandemic begin to lapse. The American Rescue Plan will put the United States on a path to defeat this virus once and for all and restore opportunity in our economy for hardworking families all across the nation, U.S. Sen. Bob Menendez, a New Jersey Democrat, said in a statement.
[co-author: Rebecca Onie, and Rocco Perla]
Editor’s Note: In a new issue brief supported by the Blue Shield of California Foundation and the Commonwealth Fund, Manatt Health in partnership with The Health Initiative presents strategies for how states can buy health, not just health care. The issue brief presents seven strategies for addressing drivers of health (DOH), defined as socioeconomic, environmental and behavioral factors (e.g., homelessness, food insecurity, exposure to intimate partner violence (IPV), adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), racism and discrimination) that impact health. Click here to download a free copy of the full issue brief. To download a free copy of our recently published
(Des Moines) The Iowa Utilities Board met with Iowa’s rate-regulated utilities Friday to
discuss possible actions that can be taken to reduce the impact of increased natural gas
and electric costs on customers as a result of February’s severe weather.
The utilities presented information on recovery costs, a proposed time period for
recovery, and whether they will seek waivers of any IUB rules. Although the IUB does
not regulate the rates of Iowa’s rural electric cooperatives or municipal utilities, the Iowa
Association of Electric Cooperatives and the Iowa Association of Municipal Utilities were
also in attendance and discussed what their members are facing.