Democrats’ relief package will improve quality of life for millions

Researchers at the Brookings Institution and at Columbia University’s Center on Poverty and Social Policy say the relief package will reduce child poverty by 45%, with the changes especially benefiting Black, Hispanic and Native American children, as well

The $1.9 trillion pandemic relief package signed by President Joe Biden last week is being hailed as transformational, and with good reason. It’s a wide-ranging and visionary piece of legislation that will greatly reduce child poverty, provide significant relief to low-income families, make it easier for Americans to obtain and afford health care coverage, expand public health service and much more.

Better yet, the benefits are scaled with states’ unemployment rates in mind, meaning Nevada will receive a much greater share of assistance this time around compared with the first round of relief in 2020. Our per-capita share is $1,247, compared with just $398 in the CARES Act — a fair reflection of the fact that we have suffered far more than most states in the economic impact of the pandemic.

We applaud the Biden administration and the congressional Democrats who supported the legislation, including all members of Southern Nevada’s congressional delegation, for developing and approving this equitable and socially responsible relief package.

Like the CARES Act, it will provide direct payments to Americans — $1,400 for individuals and $1,400 per child, meaning a family of four will receive $5,600.

But in addition, the new bill significantly expands the child tax credit, meaning lowto moderate-income families can receive up to $3,000 per child for children ages 6 to 17 and $3,600 per child for ages 6 and younger.

Combined with the direct payments, the expansion of the child tax credit means parents will receive $4,400 to $5,000 per child, in addition to their own direct payments.

The result will be remarkable, experts say. Researchers at the Brookings Institution and at Columbia University’s Center on Poverty and Social Policy say the relief package will reduce child poverty by 45%, with the changes especially benefiting Black, Hispanic and Native American children, as well as children living in deep poverty. Combined with other provisions in the package, the effect will be even greater.

“The significance of this moment in U.S. social policy is hard to overstate,” Brookings experts Christopher Pulliam and Richard V. Reeves wrote in an analysis. “In one year, the relief package as a whole is projected to cut the child poverty rate in the United States by more than half. For context, the child poverty rate declined from 17% in 2009 to 12.5% in 2019 — a 26% decline over 10 years.”

In Nevada, the impact equates to 40,000 children being lifted out of child poverty. Amazing.

Meanwhile, families’ health care burdens also will be eased. The package, known as the American Rescue Plan Act, expands Affordable Care Act marketplace subsidies for two years and provides 100% subsidies for health care premiums for those making up to 150% of the federal poverty level. That means a family of four making $39,750 or less can be fully subsidized. There’s relief for Americans making 400% of the federal poverty level, as well, in a provision that caps their premiums at no more than 8.5% of their income.

Those are just a few of the many provisions. Others will boost public education, provide targeted aid for small businesses, extend unemployment benefits, enhance public transportation and infrastructure, offer rental assistance and extend a 15% increase in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.

Southern Nevada will benefit greatly, as the package includes the following:

■ $880.5 million for the Clark County School District

■ $440 million for Clark County

■ $131 million for the city of Las Vegas, $37 million for the city of Henderson and $47 million for the city of North Las Vegas

■ $130.8 million for the Regional Transportation Committee of Southern Nevada

■ A share of $450 million of special funding for communities adversely affected by the downturn in the travel and tourism industry

■ $171.3 million for Mccarran International Airport.

Polls show Americans heavily support the rescue plan, and with good reason. Infuriatingly, it didn’t draw a single vote of support from Republicans in Congress, but that’s a reflection of the extremism of today’s GOP leadership and not the strength of the legislation. As many observers have noted, the relief package marks a sea change away from Republican-fueled anti-government mentality and instead reflects the reality that responsible governance is a powerful force of good for society.

“When you’re suffering, when you need a helping hand, when you need a little assistance just to get over a moment of crisis you didn’t create, that’s when leaders are supposed to kick in and say, ‘I’m here, I see you and I will help you,’ ” Vice President Kamala Harris said Monday during a visit to Las Vegas as part of a tour to roll out the rescue plan.

Harris is right — coming to the aid of those in need is what responsible leaders do. And thanks to her and Biden, along with the members of Congress who supported the plan, the nation has received a helping hand that will speed our recovery from the devastation of this past year.