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Biden signs $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan, what it means for Washingtonians

[SEATTLE] – (MTN) On Thursday, President Joe Biden signed the $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan. The sweeping measure provides a wide range of support to states and municipalities, businesses, and individuals impacted by COVID-related hardship.

The bill provides sweeping measures that will provide benefits for many in Washington state. Individuals tax filers who earned less than $75,000 and households that earned less than $150,000 can expect to receive their $1,400 stimulus check by the end of March. A household of four that made under $150,000 could receive as much as $5,600 in stimulus money. A reduced benefit is provided for individuals who earned up to $80,000 and households that earned up to $160,000.

For the unemployed, Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) and Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUC) have been extended to September 6, 2021. For Washington state residents, the extension will end on September 4, 2021. Also, the $300 federal boost to unemployment will continue through the same period. The Washington Employment Security website indicates that most recipients will not have a gap in benefits. However, those that are on extended unemployment benefits will need to apply for PUA or PEUC. A spokesperson for the state indicated that PUA is the last resort for those who don’t qualify for PEUC.

The first $10,200 of unemployment compensation paid in 2020 and 2021 is tax-exempt. Individuals that have already filed their 2020 tax return will have to make an amended return.

Another benefit for Washingtonians will provide financial relief to those buying health insurance through the federal health exchange or state marketplace. The amount paid is capped for the next two years at 8.5% of income, significantly reducing healthcare premiums for hundreds of thousands.

If you’re paying for health insurance through COBRA, and your job loss was COVID-related, the government will pay 100% of the premiums from April 1 to September 30, 2021.

For government, healthcare, and direct COVID response

  • $219.8 billion available through December 31, 2024, for states, US territories, and tribal governments to mitigate the fiscal impact from COVID response
    • $195.3 billion is set aside for direct federal aid to states and districts
    • $4.5 billion is set aside for direct federal aid to territories such as Puerto Rico and Guam
    • $20 billion is set aside for direct federal aid to tribal governments
    • $130.2 billion is set aside for direct federal aid to cities, towns, and counties
  • $91 billion to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to accelerate the production of COVID vaccines and fund continued research while expanding testing and contact tracing
  • $47.8 billion to HHS to diagnose, trace, and monitor COVID infections, directing HHS to implement a national, coordinated strategy, including the use and distribution of testing kits, adding lab capacity, and creating mobile test capacity to support rural communities
  • $7.5 billion for the Centers for Disease Control for tracking vaccination nationally and monitor efficacy long term
  • $7.6 billion to assist Community Health Centers in rural and poor regions of the country to provide vaccinations and COVID related medical services
  • $7.7 billion to HHS to rehire and expand staffing that was cut by the prior administration
  • $58.5 billion to be set aside to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) disaster fund through FY2025, to reimburse states for COVID related expenses, and to help states fund rural health care, providers

For individuals

  • $,1400 in direct payments to individual US social security number holders who filed a tax return or were claimed on a tax return and made $75,000 or less in 2020, or $150,000 or less per household – the direct payments represent 21% of the entire cost of the bill
    • The direct payment phases out for individuals tax filers making $80,000 or more and households making $160,000 or more
  • Removes the income gap for two years for health insurance premium tax credits for individuals and families using the federal health exchange or Washington state marketplace for health insurance
    • The amount paid out of pocket is limited to 8.5% of income, as measured by the exchange
    • Any taxpayer who received too much tax credit during the 2020 tax season won’t have to pay back the excess to the IRS
  • Extends Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation until September 6, 2021, providing extended unemployment payments for those out of work due to COVID related shutdowns or slowdowns
  • Extends Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) which supports 1099, gig workers, and the self-employed who have lost work due to COVID related shutdowns or can’t work due to being in a vulnerable group
  • Extends the additional $300 federal unemployment increase through September 6, 2021, for anyone drawing unemployment
  • Exempts the first $10,200 collected through unemployment compensation in 2020 and 2021 from federal taxes
  • Expansion of the Child Tax Credit (CTC) and Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) from $2000 to $3000, and to $3600 for children under the age of 6
  • Expansion of the Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit increasing the credit to $4,000 for one child and $8,000 for two or more children
  • $21.5 billion in Emergency Federal Rental Assistance to aid those facing eviction for unpaid rent
  • $5 billion to support community efforts to provide support services and housing solutions to the homeless
  • $10 billion through the Department of Treasury to provide direct assistance to homeowners and small landlords facing foreclosure due to job loss or uncollected rent

For businesses

  • $28.6 billion in relief to small and midsized restaurants, expanding money available in the Restaurants Revitalization Fund
  • $1.25 billion added to the Shuttered Venture Operator Grant program to help live music venues, performing arts centers, independent movie theaters, and museums
  • $15 billion in new funds for the Targeted Economic Injury Disaster Loan grant
  • $7 billion added to the existing Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) is expanded to support 501(c)(5) non-profits
  • $10 billion to aid the creation of state-led programs which utilize private capital for low-interest loans and other investment to support entrepreneurs
  • Extends the Employee Retention Tax Credit through December 31, 2021
  • Restores Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) tax credits providing payroll tax credits to employers who voluntarily provide paid sick leave through the end of September 2021 to those infected with COVID, or have to care for an FMLA qualified relative who has COVID

Controversial pork projects were largely removed from the bill as it was reconciled in the Senate. Not a single Republican voted in favor of the bill.

Local

Kirkland resident raises $4000 for struggling restaurants and feeds families in need

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Angela Rozmyn believes in taking action whenever she sees a community in need. As part of the Planning Commission for Kirkland, she is acutely aware of the challenges that businesses and families are facing due to the pandemic. Inspired by a program the city of Palmdale, California implemented, she decided to donate a single gift card to a local restaurant and a family in need. In less than 24 hours, her simple gesture generated an outpouring of support.

When Rozmyn isn’t blogging, working, serving on the Planning Commission, or with her family, she is an administrator for the Eastside Restaurant Support (Kirkland, Redmond, Bellevue, and Surrounding) Facebook group. “I would see comments in the support group of I would love to go to this restaurant, but money is tight,” she explained. “A city in California was doing a thing where you take a picture of your takeout, and you could win a $25 gift card. So I thought, I’m just going to give away a $50 gift card to help a local restaurant and people struggling in the community.”

That simple gesture quickly grew into something bigger. Within an hour, 20 people had jumped in, making the same offer. “When I saw the responses, I thought, wow, maybe we can cover everyone who needs a gift card.” In 24 hours, $4000 flowed in. It would be enough to support 80 families while keeping that money in the local business community. “We were able to provide a gift card to every family that asked.” It’s not over, as donations continue to come in with community members wanting to start a program for holiday season meals and a toy drive.

Restaurants across the United States have been hard hit due to restrictions to curb the spread of COVID. Across the country, dining-in restrictions, limited alcohol sales, and economic recession have hit the hospitality industry hard. Locally, a new ban on indoor dining due to a record-shattering increase in COVID infections came just as seasonal rains arrived, making outdoor seating a challenge. At the same time, support organizations like food banks and homelessness prevention services have been overwhelmed with the number of people in need.

When asked, Rozmyn explained how her small gesture broke through giving fatigue. “What made this so successful is people were already in a group to support local restaurants. So their heads are already in a space to support our struggling eateries.”

Families get to decide what restaurant they want to support. Supported businesses aren’t limited to the eastside, with a few requests for restaurants in the south sound and one in West Seattle. 

People have continued to donate, inspiring a coming second round of restaurant support. If you would like to help, you can Venmo @Angela-Rozmyn with the comment, Eastside Restaurant Support.

Michelle Janson contributed to this story.