American Rescue Plan Act of 2021

Floor Speech

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Ms. DelBENE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the American Rescue Plan, a bill that will deliver crucial relief to millions of Americans who have been struggling for far too long.

The pandemic has caused economic uncertainty, hardship, and turmoil. An estimated 8 million people have fallen into poverty during this crisis making the need for relief even greater.

This bill includes an antipoverty measure I have fought for: An expansion of the child tax credit. The expansion will provide increased payments to help families pay bills and buy essentials. The expansions in this bill are estimated to cut child poverty in half. This will transform the lives of many families and children.

As chair of the New Democrat Coalition, I am working to make the child tax credit permanent with Representatives DeLauro and Torres. Democrats are united around our shared goal to rebuild the middle class and make some of the biggest antipoverty reforms in a generation.

I welcome my colleagues on the other side of the aisle to join us. Lifting children out of poverty should not be partisan.

The American Rescue Plan will get our economy back on track and crush the virus. I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on this critical legislation.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Source