On Feb. 26, the House of Representatives passed the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, a $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief proposal that includes major components of America’s Five Economic Essentials.

The package, according to The New York Times, "includes more than $400 billion to combat the pandemic directly, including money to accelerate vaccine deployment and to safely reopen most schools within 100 days. An additional $350 billion would help state and local governments bridge budget shortfalls, while the plan would also include $1,400 direct payments to individuals, more generous unemployment benefits, federally mandated paid leave for workers and large subsidies for child care costs."

More than 28 million Americans have contracted COVID-19 and over 510,000 already have died.

This is a historic rescue package to fund vaccinations and contain the virus; deliver direct, immediate relief to those hardest hit; and support struggling communities.

The American Rescue Plan includes:

• A $20 billion national vaccine program with nationwide community vaccination centers.

• Funding for 100,000 additional public health workers for vaccine outreach, contact tracing and other work to improve care in underserved communities.

• An education campaign to persuade people the vaccines are safe and effective.

• More money for COVID-19 testing, treatment and protective supplies.

• Increased access to health coverage through 85% subsidies for COBRA for the unemployed (the AFL-CIO supports 100% subsidies) and increased premium tax credits to help people afford insurance, as well as expanded mental health and substance use disorder services.

• Stimulus checks of $1,400 per person in addition to the current $600 payments.

• Extended enhanced unemployment insurance benefits.

• Increased food assistance in all states and territories for the duration of our current crisis, with automatic triggers for increases during future health or economic crises.

• Critical aid to renters, people threatened with or experiencing homelessness, and households unable to pay heat or water bills.

• An extension of the eviction and foreclosure moratoriums.

• Money for small businesses, directed to those hardest hit and those owned by people of color.

• Emergency funding of $350 billion for state, local and territorial governments to offset their financial crises, service cuts and layoffs as a result of the pandemic.

• Funds for public transit agencies.

• $170 billion for schools, including $130 billion dedicated toward a safe reopening and/or effective remote learning for K-12, and funds to help colleges deal with the shift to distance learning and other pandemic-tied problems.

• An increased child tax credit of $3,000 per child, or $3,600 for a child under the age of 6. (These credits are fully refundable, which means even the poorest families in our country can receive the full benefit. This measure also increases the earned-income tax credit for the poorest workers without dependent children.)

• An increase in the federal minimum wage to $15 per hour.

• A plan to hire 100,000 public health workers to assist with vaccine distribution, testing and public outreach.

• $20 billion to support tribal governments’ pandemic response, including health care and increased access to clean water, electricity and broadband.

• Paid sick and family and medical leave for more than 14 weeks.

Use the form to write your U.S. senators. Urge them to support the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021.