Durbin Delivers Floor Speech On The First Anniversary Of The American Rescue Plan
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today spoke about the importance of the American Rescue Plan one year after Democrats passed the legislation—without a single Republican vote. The American Rescue Plan provided a critical lifeline to low-income families, and it helped stabilize middle-class families by providing enhanced child tax credits, expanded unemployment insurance, and housing relief. It also expanded the availability of affordable health coverage – including expanded coverage for pregnant women, new moms, and babies.
“Today is also an important anniversary in America’s recovery [from the pandemic],” said Durbin. “One year ago today, Democrats in Congress passed the American Rescue Plan—our comprehensive plan to help American families, hospitals, and small businesses weather the economic hardships of the pandemic, and to distribute vaccines and medical equipment so that we could get this pandemic behind us and return to normal life in America.”
“The U.S. economy has recovered faster, stronger from this pandemic than that of any other G7 nation. America’s economy added more than six million new jobs in the year since we passed the American Rescue Plan, that’s a record. Part of the reason our economy is stronger today is because that plan made wise decisions to help families, businesses, and communities through the worst times, when the pandemic forced businesses and schools to close,” Durbin continued.
Durbin concluded, “Some families actually finally paid down their debts. Others put a few dollars away for the next emergency. Now they're feeling squeezed again. That doesn't mean we were mistaken when we passed the American Rescue Plan. It means we have more to do to lower the cost of living for families across the United States. This should be done on a bipartisan basis. Inflation is a global problem—not simply an American problem.”
Video of Durbin’s remarks on the Senate floor is available here.
Audio of Durbin’s remarks on the Senate floor is available here.
Footage of Durbin’s remarks on the Senate floor is available here for TV Stations.
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