Congressman Al Green Celebrates Historic Investments in the American People on One-Year Anniversary of the American Rescue Plan

(Houston, TX) – On Friday, March 11, 2022, Congressman Al Green (TX-09) released the following statement:

“Today marks the one-year anniversary of the American Rescue Plan (ARP) being signed into law as a result of the COVID-19 crisis. In the year since its passage, this landmark legislation has made historic investments in communities across the United States to help hardworking American families, lift children out of poverty, and support students in their pursuit of higher education,” Congressman Al Green proclaimed. “In 2021, the ARP helped front-line workers, including health aides, janitors, truck drivers, and cashiers, and reached an estimated 40 million families with 65 million children. The Earned Income Tax Credit, a tax break for eligible workers and families without children, benefited an estimated 17 million workers nationally and over 1.3 million in my home state of Texas. In Texas, the Child Tax Credit has also helped drive record lows in child poverty, including Black and Hispanic child poverty, and benefited over three million families with over six million children.”

Eligible families can ensure they receive the expanded Child Tax Credit when they file their tax returns during this 2022 tax season. To learn more visit ChildTaxCredit.gov.

“The ARP has also brought financial relief to students, community colleges, and universities, including minority institutions of higher learning. The State of Texas alone received over $3.4 billion. Local allocation from this bill included $3.7 million for Stafford City, $7 million for Missouri City, $157 million for Fort Bend County, $615 million for Houston, $914 million for Harris County, and a total estimated $1.3 billion for local school districts, including Stafford MSD, Fort Bend ISD, Alief ISD, and Houston ISD. This legislation also provided more than $2.7 billion to Historically Black Colleges and Universities, approximately $11 billion to Hispanic-serving institutions, and roughly $5 billion to Asian American and Native American Pacific-Islander serving institutions. These funds ensured students were not left behind during the ongoing threat of the COVID-19 pandemic and have helped maintain disruptions to their education to a minimum. Other local institutions benefiting from ARP funds include Houston Community College and the University of Houston, who are receiving over $122 million and over $116 million respectively.”

Congressman Al Green added, “Without the strong support of the ARP, the COVID-19 pandemic would have wreaked far greater suffering on our economy and the lives of American people. As we work to emerge from the hardships of the previous year and prepare to confront any challenges that may lay ahead, I pledge to continue fighting for the wellbeing of my constituents of the Ninth Congressional District and that of all Americans.”