The American Rescue Plan Act, which Congress has passed and has been signed by President Biden, will provide needed help to tens of millions of people, reduce high levels of hardship, help school districts address student learning loss, and bolster the economy.
The economy remains weak, the jobs recovery has lost momentum, and there are 9.5 million fewer jobs than in February of 2020. Black and Latino unemployment is 9.9 percent and 8.5 percent, respectively, well above the white unemployment rate of 5.6 percent — which itself is too high.