DEMOCRATS DELIVER FOR LOUISIANA FAMILIES, WHILE REPUBLICANS IGNORE THEIR CONSTITUENTS 

The American Rescue Act, President Joe Biden’s $1.9 trillion COVID relief bill, works to bring the pandemic to an end by funding a national program to manufacture and distribute vaccines. The bill also provides $300 enhanced unemployment benefits for displaced workers and $1,400 stimulus checks to working people, which benefits 91% of Louisiana adults and 93% of Louisiana children. Additionally, the American Rescue Plan expands the child tax credit for families from $2,000 to $3,600 for children under 6 and to $3,000 for children 6-17 years of age, helping over 1 million Louisiana households. 

“The American Rescue Act helps virtually every family in our state,” said Louisiana Democratic Party Chair Katie Bernhardt. “It isn’t just a campaign promise kept by President Biden and Democrats. The American Rescue Act delivers real help to the people of Louisiana. It’s unfortunate that Louisiana’s Republican Senators and Congressmen chose partisan politics over the people they serve.”

Senators John Kennedy and Bill Cassidy, along with Representatives Mike Johnson (LA-4), Steve Scalise (LA-1), Clay Higgins (LA-3), and Garret Graves (LA-6) voted against funding for vaccines, schools, families, small businesses, cities, and parishes in their district. However, each of them enthusiastically supported the massive 2017 tax breaks for corporations and the top 1% of wealthiest Americans. 

In the American Rescue Plan, 70% of the tax benefits go to households earning less than $91,000 a year, especially families in the bottom 20%. 

Louisiana ranks near the top of the nation in poverty. According to a new study, the American Rescue Plan is expected to cut childhood poverty by more than half. It will reduce poverty among black Americans by 42%, Hispanic Americans by 39%, and white Americans by 34%. 

The American Rescue Act sends more than $2.5 billion to Louisiana’s K-12 schools, which can be used for safe in-person learning during the pandemic, and to fund tutoring and summer programs to recover learning lost to the pandemic.

There is $350 billion set aside in the bill for state and local governments fiscal relief. The State of Louisiana is expected to receive just over $3 billion in much-needed relief, which every Republican member of Louisiana’s congressional delegation voted against. The American Rescue Act delivers $1.7 billion in local relief for Louisiana cities, parishes, and towns. 

New Orleans is set to receive $375 million. This is among the nation’s largest share of funding for a city of New Orleans’ size. Despite this fact, Congressman Steve Scalise, whose district includes parts of New Orleans, voted against the bill. 

Shreveport, Caddo Parish, and Bossier Parish are expected to receive over $120 million in combined federal aid, but their representative, Congressman Mike Johnson, also opposed the bill. 

Similarly, the Baton Rouge and Lafayette areas are set to receive more than $100 million each in aid. Congressmen Garret Graves and Clay Higgins, representing the 3rd and 6th Congressional Districts voted against the critical aid to their constituent cities and parishes. 

Ouachita Parish, Lincoln Parish, and their municipalities will receive over $50 million in aid, which Ruston’s Mayor said, “Could not have come at a better time.” Still Senators John Kennedy and Bill Cassidy opposed the aid. 

47% ($888 Billion) of the $1.9 trillion bill is COVID relief for Americans in need through stimulus checks, enhanced unemployment, rental and mortgage assistance, child tax credits, and other direct relief programs.