Today, Congressman Frank J. Mrvan supported H.R. 1319, the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, which President Biden is expected to sign into law shortly.
The American Rescue Plan takes critical action to improve the availability of vaccination shots, assist schools with in-person education, invest in our economy, and provide individuals and families with direct relief.
Specifically, this landmark legislation invests $20 billion in a coordinated, nationwide vaccine program, and also includes nearly $130 billion for schools to safely open and assist children. Further, the legislation includes direct relief to states, counties, cities, and towns, and also provides individuals with rescue checks of up to $1,400.
The American Rescue Plan also includes direct relief to Northwest Indiana cities and towns, including $84 million for the City of Gary, $53 million for the City of Hammond, $33 million for East Chicago, $17 million for Michigan City, and $7 million for Portage. This funding will aim to assist municipalities in addressing the economic impact of COVID-19, reinitiate government services, and provide premium pay to essential workers.
Further, this legislation includes direct relief to Northwest Indiana school corporations, including $95 million for the Gary Community School Corporation, $46 million for the School City of Hammond, $38 million for City of East Chicago School District, $23 million for Michigan City Area Schools, and $12 million for Portage Township Schools.
Attached is a complete list of funding amounts for Northwest Indiana municipalities and school corporations, and these funding amounts are rough estimates provided by the House Budget Committee and the House Committee on Education on Labor.
Congressman Frank J. Mrvan stated, “I am honored to be able to take an action today that will provide direct and tangible investments to address the pandemic, provide much needed relief for our families, and grow our economy. The COVID-19 pandemic has wreaked havoc on our all of our lives, our mental health, and our economy, and I continue to grieve for all of the individuals and families in our nation who have lost someone special this past year. We remember these victims as we take action today to defeat this virus, get children safely back in schools, and make lasting investments to create more good-paying job opportunities and grow our economy. I look forward to assisting our communities in obtaining this essential funding as soon as possible, and making sure that it is spent as efficiently and effectively as possible.”
For additional information on the American Rescue Plan click here.
Below are the funding allocations for Northwest Indiana municipalities and school corporations from H.R. 1319, the American Rescue Plan (ARP) Act of 2021. These are rough estimates provided by the House Budget Committee and the House Committee on Education and Labor.
