Vargas lauds relief package
EL CENTRO — California 51st District Congressman Juan Vargas and colleagues held a press conference Thursday to laud the newly enacted American Rescue Plan and explain how it will help their constituents.
The $1.9 trillion coronavirus relief package, signed Thursday by President Joe Biden, includes $1,400 relief checks for Americans making less than $75,000 per year.
Additionally, the plan provides $20 billion to establish a national vaccine program and boost vaccine distribution, and $170 billion to K-12 schools and universities to help with remote learning and with reopening.
“I think that this rescue plan that we have is an excellent one, and I want to thank the president,” Vargas said.
He said his district has been dramatically affected by COVID-19.
“There are a lot of essential workers in my district,” he said. “A lot of people, unfortunately, have gotten sick, have died and a lot of people have lost their jobs. And that’s why this was so important.”
The relief plan also includes unemployment benefits, keeping the current federal unemployment insurance payment at $300 per week until Sept. 6.
The first $10,200 in unemployment payments will be non-taxable for households with incomes less than $150,000, per the plan.
“The unemployment benefit, the extension — absolutely essential,” Vargas said.
Additionally, the Rescue Plan will temporarily extend the child tax credit (a nationwide tax law), expanding the benefit from $2,000 annually to $3,000 for children 6 to 17 years old, and $3,600 for children younger than 6.
“There’s a lot of kids in my district, and this really helps out a lot of these parents that have lost their job or are unemployed right now because they work in industries that have been dramatically affected by COVID-19,” Vargas said.
Vargas participated in Thursday’s press conference alongside fellow California Congressman Ted Lieu, D-33rd; Adam Schiff, D-28th; Tony Cárdenas, D-29th, and Scott Peters, D-52nd.
“I thank my colleagues that are here on the line, and, especially, I thank the president for having the courage to move forward,” Vargas said. “This is necessary. We’re in a pandemic, and I thank God that we’re moving forward.”