Rep. Moore Explains Support For Stimulus Bill

Washington DC —U.S. Rep. Gwen Moore (D-Milwaukee), whose 4th District includes Milwaukee and suburbs like Shorewood and Whitefish Bay, voted in favor of the $1.9 trillion coronavirus relief bill, which the House approved 219-212 early Saturday.

The bill has moved to the Senate, and the New York Times reports Democratic senators are hoping to finalize the bill before March 14, when unemployment benefits are set to begin lapsing.

On Monday, Moore issued a statement explaining her support for the bill, which was supported by all but two Democrats in the House. The congresswoman also highlighted some of the benefits the bill is expected to provide individuals, businesses and legislative bodies in her district.

"The American Rescue Plan meets this moment of compounding crises with a bold, comprehensive response," Moore said. "By providing survival checks, expanding access to health care and making poverty fighting tools like the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) and Child Tax Credit (CTC) more accessible, we directly uplift working families."

Moore also voiced her support for a gradual increase to a $15 minimum wage despite the Senate parliamentarian's Feb. 26 ruling that the provision cannot be included in the relief package.

In her statement, Moore said the relief package takes steps to help small businesses, especially those owned by people of color, gain access to support. She also said she was pleased to see the bill include aid for Americans becoming food and housing insecure.

"I'm especially relieved to see this aid I fought for included, given that 1 in 4 children in Wisconsin face food insecurity, evictions have spiked in Milwaukee and nationwide 8 million people have been pushed into poverty during the pandemic," Moore said.

Moore highlighted the state and local fiscal relief expected to result from the bill. She said the $350 billion in relief for local governments that have seen their budgets hit hard by the pandemic includes $3.2 billion for the State of Wisconsin, $406 million for the City of Milwaukee and $183 million for Milwaukee County.

The bill also provides $130 billion for the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund, which will mean an estimated $579 million for Milwaukee Public Schools, including $115 million to address learning loss. Shorewood Public Schools are expected to receive an estimated $1.7 million, including $343,000 for learning loss and the Whitefish Bay School District is expected to receive $1.5 million, including $313,000 for learning loss.

Additionally, the bill is expected to include $1,400 survival cash payments for each taxpayer and each dependent up to certain monetary thresholds, an extension of COVID federal unemployment benefits through the end of August, an extension of the 15-percent SNAP benefit increase, $7.6 billion for community health centers, $7.25 billion under the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and $25 billion for a new SBA program to support restaurants.

"While this bill does not include everything I've championed, I know it will provide meaningful relief to my constituents and Americans across the country," Moore said. "As we continue to address the public health and economic crisis, we cannot use life before the pandemic as a guideline for progress in America. Our work must continue to build opportunity and a country where everyone can thrive."

Read. Rep. Moore's full statement here.