Senate Considers American Rescue Plan Act, IFPTE Requests Maintaining Support for Working People, Public Services, Aviation Manufacturing Jobs
As the Senate began considering the American Rescue Plan Act through the weekend, IFPTE reminded Senators that IFPTE members and working people in every state and congressional district stand to benefit from this COVID relief bill’s provisions.
The Senate Substitute Amendment to American Rescue Plan Act (S.Amdt.891 to H.R.1319) increases the House-passed bill’s 85% federal COBRA subsidy to 100%. The Senate version also lowers the phase out range for the $1,400 direct payments for individuals and dependents to $75,000 to $80,000 for single tax filers, $112,500 to $120,000 for single parents, and $150,000 to $160,000 for married couples — tax filers below the bottom of those ranges receive the full $1,400, while those above the range will not receive a payment.
Other sections of the Senate version maintain the House-passed bill’s provisions, including $350 billion in flexible relief funds for state and local governments, the Aviation Jobs Protection Act payroll support program, 15 weeks of emergency COVID leave for federal employees, pandemic unemployment insurance and the $300/week emergency unemployment compensation, a new child tax credit, and an expansion of the Paycheck Protection Program to allow unions to apply for loans under the program.
With floor amendments to the Senate version of the bill expected during the “vote-a-rama” lasting into the weekend and amendments to weaken necessary, IFPTE will continue to follow developments and urge Senators to vote against any amendments that weaken the legislation.