LCLAA Applauds the Passing of the American Rescue Plan As We Raise our Voices with those who Have Been Excluded

MEDIA STATEMENT
Friday, March 12, 2021
Contact: Andrea Arenas / 202-316-1212

Washington D.C.- Last night the American Rescue Plan made its way back to President Biden’s desk, who signed the bill into law. This legislation represents a victory for millions of working families that are in desperate need of immediate assistance to help them weather this crisis. 

The $1.9 trillion Covid-19 relief legislation will help working families across our nation recover from the devastating effects of the pandemic providing economic payments directly to those who need it most, while at the same time pumping money into our all sectors of our economy, from small businesses to state and local governments.Furthermore, it increases vaccinations and testing, ensures access to health coverage, promotes health equity and invests in mental health.

The relief package will also help working families in making ends meet by providing $1,400 payments to individuals whose income is less than $75,000 yearly. And takes additional steps towards including mixed-status immigrant families who were left out of previous stimulus packages, to access stimulus checks using the Social Security number belonging to their legal spouse. The ARP will help low-income households, in particular Latino and Black families, by expanding the Child Tax Credit (CTC) from $2,000 per year, to as much as $3,600 per child. This benefit, which will now be given on a monthly basis and in the form of cash payments, will help lift over 4 million children out of poverty.

LCLAA applauds the passing of this critical bill, as we encourage Congress and the White House to join forces in order to ensure that undocumented immigrants, many of whom have, and continue to play a critical role as essential and front-line workers can also be a part of our nation’s recovery.

“We are encouraged by the passing of the American Rescue plan as it will help millions of working families keep their jobs, pay rent, and even start sending their children back to school in a safe way, The Child Tax Credit will benefit countless low-income families, and working moms, rise from poverty by increasing their income by 20%, yearly,” said Yanira Merino, LCLAA National President. “We recognize that this legislation addresses issues that Latino and immigrant families face, yet it still concerning that it excludes undocumented immigrants, who have and continue to play a critical role as essential and frontline workers, and who need to be a part of the country’s recovery from the pandemic.”

“It has been a year since this pandemic started spreading across the country, bringing about lockdowns, a devastating economic downturn, unemployment, and taking the lives of more than 529,000 individuals, said Jose Vargas, LCLAA Executive Director. “We commend the passing of this timely legislation, which will undoubtedly help our communities advance, yet we also elevate our voices with and for those who have excluded despite their priceless, countless, and valiant contributions.”

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The Labor Council for Latin American Advancement (LCLAA) is the leading national organization for Latino(a) workers and their families. LCLAA was born in 1972 out of the need to educate, organize and mobilize Latinos in the labor movement and has expanded its influence to organize Latinos in an effort to impact workers’ rights and their influence in the political process. LCLAA represents the interest of more than 2 million Latino workers in the American Federation of Labor-Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO), The Change to Win Federation, Independent Unions and all its membership. Visit LCLAA on the web at www.lclaa.org, on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.