Over the past year, the economic fallout of the pandemic has disproportionately impacted underserved populations and has increased the number of newly vulnerable New Yorkers. Unemployment threatens to push families into poverty, with many low-income New Yorkers worrying about running out of money or getting food on the table. We have worked for decades to ensure health equity for New Yorkers, and the economic impact of the pandemic has made our mission all the more urgent. While the pandemic is not over and the economic pain remains, President Biden’s newly passed American Rescue Plan offers new hope for a brighter, more equitable future here in New York City.

Our communities need direct, meaningful, long-term support to continue weathering this crisis. The American Rescue Plan makes that possible, and it includes a number of provisions that will provide immediate and necessary aid for New Yorkers.

  • An unemployment insurance supplement of $300 will continue through September and millions of people will maintain their unemployment eligibility. This is in addition to the $1,400 survival checks going directly to millions of Americans.
  • Families with children will receive an expanded child tax credit of up to $3,600 for one year. The tax credit alone could cut child poverty in the U.S. by nearly half.
  • SNAP benefits will be increased by 15% through September, and WIC benefits will be modernized and improved upon. We enroll thousands of New Yorkers in these benefits every year, and these changes will make a difference in their ability to put food on the table.
  • $7.66 billion will be invested to establish, expand, and sustain a public health workforce, providing the infrastructure needed to keep America healthy.

During this difficult time, this bill brings much-needed relief to those who are still impacted by the economic and health consequences of the pandemic. Empowered by the relief offered by the American Rescue Plan, PHS remains committed to reducing health inequities by building a future where all New Yorkers lead healthy lives.

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