One Year Later, Rep. Carter Highlights Unprecedented Recovery Powered By Democrats’ American Rescue Plan

WASHINGTON, D.C. – One year since Democrats’ American Rescue Plan Act was signed into law, Congressman Troy A. Carter Sr. highlighted how this legislation changed the course of the pandemic, put working Louisianians back on the path to financial security and supported police officers, firefighters, health care workers and other frontline heroes.

“The American Rescue Plan gave Louisianians reason to hope that we could finally defeat this pandemic,” said Congressman Carter. “Thanks to Democrats’ leadership, that hope has given way to results: 2.45 million Louisianians have been vaccinated and Louisiana’s unemployment rate has plummeted to 4.4 percent.  This historic legislation kickstarted an historic recovery, delivering the resources needed to get vaccines in arms, money in pockets, workers back in jobs and kids safely back in schools.  The American people elected President Biden and Democratic Majorities in Congress to deliver – and with our Rescue Plan, that’s exactly what we did.  I am proud to have cast my vote to give our state the tools to beat the pandemic and support Louisiana’s working families.”

Democrats’ Rescue Plan has deployed billions in funds to help Louisiana contain COVID-19 and build a strong, sustainable and just economic recovery, including:

· $3 billion for Louisiana’s state and local governments, helping to preserve services, scale up testing, distribute vaccines, and keep essential workers on the job – including health care workers, police, firefighters, teachers, and food, sanitation, and transportation workers

· $2.6 billion for Louisiana’s schools, helping students safely return to in-person learning

· $1,400 relief checks delivered to 2,393,823 people in Louisiana, totaling $5.76 billion

· $261.7 million in emergency rental assistance for Louisiana, keeping a roof over working families’ heads

· $772.5 million in child care funds for Louisiana, helping early childhood educators and family child care providers keep their doors open

· $683 million supporting Louisiana’s colleges and universities, including $196 million for community colleges

Nationally, these investments have powered an unprecedented economic recovery that has delivered: 

· The greatest single year of job creation in American history: 6.6 million jobs created in the President’s first year and 7.4 million over the course of the Biden Administration.  More manufacturing jobs – nearly half a million – were created than in any year since 1994.

· The fastest economic growth in almost 40 years: with the GDP growing last year at 5.7 percent, the fastest rate since 1984. 

· The biggest single year drop in the unemployment rate in our history: falling from 6.4 percent when Democrats took office to around 4 percent and now, 3.8 percent.  When President Biden took office, over 18 million were receiving unemployment benefits; now, only 2 million are.

· A new record of 5.4 million new small businesses created: a full million more small businesses than in the year before. 

“As we mark this milestone, Congressional Democrats are continuing to build on the progress of the past year by lowering costs, growing paychecks and creating jobs,” said Congressman Carter.  “I am committed to fighting for and winning the resources we need to Build a Better Louisiana.”

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