The title of H.R. 1319, “American Rescue Plan Act 2021, is inaccurate. If it weren’t so damaging to our country the “rescue” title would be almost laughable

The title of H.R. 1319, “American Rescue Plan Act 2021, is inaccurate. If it weren’t so damaging to our country the “rescue” title would be almost laughable. The bill adds $1.9 Trillion to our national debt and the out-of-control spending of the Federal Government. To put that in perspective – our Federal Government spends $1,000,000 every 20 seconds! Notice the particularly the following general observations:

HR 1319 – AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT 2021

General observations for concern:

In every appropriation this statement appears: “In addition to amounts otherwise available….” In other words most every line item in this bill has already been allocated funds for 2021. The enormous amounts allocated in this bill are over and above current allocations.
Only 9% of the $1.9 Trillion in the bill directly relates to combatting the virus.
91% of the spending is non-Covid, including union pension, bailouts for Democrat states (NY, NJ, CA), Planned Parenthood
Of the $4 Trillion allocated in previous Covid relief bills, $1Trillion has not been spent. Of the $1.9 Trillion in this bill a minimal would be spent in 2021. The vast majority of the funds will not be available until mid- to late 2022 (near the 2022 election).
Funds are awarded based on membership in a “socially disadvantaged group” not individual need. Thus a wealthy farmer or business owner, for example would be eligible for financial assistance because of his/her membership in a “socially disadvantaged group”. Likewise a farmer or business owner negatively impacted by Covid 19 who is not a member of a “socially disadvantaged group” would not qualify for financial assistance. Socially disadvantaged individuals are those who have been subjected to racial or ethnic prejudice or cultural bias within American society because of their identities as members of groups and without regard to their individual qualities.

AGRICULTURE

Payment of 120 percent of the outstanding indebtedness of each socially disadvantaged farmer or rancher as of January 1, 2021 (the term "socially disadvantaged group" means a group whose members have been subjected to racial or ethnic prejudice because of their identity as members of a group without regard to their individual qualities)
Additional $1.01Billion available until expended for socially disadvantaged farmers, ranchers, forest landowners or members of socially disadvantaged groups.

EDUCATION

K-12 education $128,554,800,000 to:

Higher Ed - $39,584,570,000

Outlying Areas - $850 Million

Bureau of Indian Education - $850 Million

Gallaudet University - $19,250,000

Student Aid - $91,130,000

Student Aid Administration - $91,130 Million

Howard University - $35 Million

National Technical Institute for the Deaf - $19,250,000

Institute of Education Sciences - $100Million

National Endowment for the Arts - $135 Million

National Endowment for the Humanities - $135 Million

Institute of Museum and Library Services - $200 Million

Preservation and Maintenance of Native American Languages - $10 Million

LABOR MATTERS

Worker Protection - $150 Million

HUMAN SERVICES

Older Americans & Families - $1.444 Billion for programs related to Title III and Title VI of Older Americans Act of 1965

Childcare

$14.990Billion for Childcare and Development Block Grants
$23.975 Billion for Childcare Stabilization Grants
Administrative costs $35 Million

Head Start - $1Billion

Programs for Survivors

$200Million Family Violence Prevention and Services Act implementation
$49.5Million grants to support culturally specific populations
$198Million to Secretary of HHS to assist rape crisis centers in transitioning to virtual services

Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment

$250Million to implement Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act
$100Million for State grand programs authorized by Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act

Corporation for National and Community Service and National Service Trust – total $852Million that includes:

$620Million for Americorps
$80 Million Americorps Vista
$30 Million National Senior Service Corps
$73 Million Administrative costs

ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH

Pollution and Disparate Impact

$100Million to address health outcome disparities from pollution and Covid 19
$4.5Billion to provide payments under Low-Income Energy Assistance Act of 1981

Water Assistance Program - $500 Million to States and Indian Tribes to assist low-income household pay for drinking water and/or wastewater services

E-Rate Support for Emergency Education Connections and Devices - $7.599 Billion for eligible connectivity equipment (wi-fi hotspots, modems, routers, laptops, tablets)

DEFENSE PRODUCTION ACT OF 1950 - Medical Supplies - $10 Billion for testing, PPE, viccines

Housing

Rental assistance - $20,250 Billion which includes $305 Million for Puerto Rico, US Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, Northern Mariana Islands and $30 Million for administrative costs
Emergency Housing Vouchers - $5 Billion for qualified individuals or families (homeless, at risk of homelessness, those fleeing domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking or human trafficking)
Emergency Assistance for Rural Housing - $100 Million
Housing Assistance & Supportive Services for Native Americans - $750 Million which includes housing assistance
Housing Counseling - $100Million
Homelessness Assistance and Supportive Services Program - $5 Billion

SMALL BUSINESS

State Small Business Credit Initiative

$500 Million allocated to tribal governments
$10 Billion to provide support to small businesses owned and controlled by socially and economically disadvantaged individuals
$1.5 Billion to states to support business enterprises owned and controlled by socially and economically disadvantaged individuals
Not less than $500 Million to states to support very small businesses
$500 to states to carry out a technical assistance plan under which a State will provide legal, accounting, and financial advisory services, either directly or contracted with legal, accounting, and financial advisory firms, with priority given to business enterprises owned and controlled by socially and economically disadvantaged individuals, to very small businesses and business enterprises owned and controlled by socially and economically disadvantaged individuals applying for state or federal programs

AIRLINES

Payroll Support Grants for continuation of payment of employee wages, salaries and benefits

Eligible air carriers aggregate amount - $14Billion
Eligible contractors aggregate amount $1 Billion

Silicon Valley Subway - $100 Million

National Public Radio - $175 Million

Global Response - $8.675 Billion

Committee of Indian Affairs

Indian Health Service - $6.094 Billion
Bureau of Indian Affairs - $900 Million
Housing Assistance and Supportive Services for Native Americans - $750 Million
Preservation of Native American Languages - $20 Million
Bureau of Indian Education - $850 Million

By: Pam Simpson

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