Celebrating Three Years of Growth and Recovery in Arizona Thanks to the American Rescue Plan

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today marks the three-year anniversary of President Biden signing the American Rescue Plan Act into law. This legislation invested more than $15 billion in Arizona, helping keep renters and homeowners up-to-date on their bills and small businesses afloat across the state. In celebration, Building Back Together Executive Director Mayra Macías released the following statement:

“When President Biden assumed office, our nation faced an unprecedented public health and economic crisis. The Biden-Harris Administration took swift action in response, enacting the American Rescue Plan to combat the challenges posed by COVID-19 and ensure our full economic recovery. As we commemorate the three-year anniversary of this pivotal legislation, the transformative impact it has had in communities across America cannot be overstated. Despite facing unanimous opposition from Republicans in Congress, the American Rescue Plan empowered the Biden-Harris Administration to supercharge recovery efforts, directly support American businesses, workers and families, and facilitate a safe return to work and school for all Americans. Moreover, the American Rescue Plan enabled local governments to use the funds to best serve their communities, spurring innovation and support for critical programs like housing, child care and food assistance.

“Thanks to the American Rescue Plan, the United States has had one of the fastest post-pandemic recoveries among the world’s top economies, with nearly 15 million jobs created, record-low unemployment, higher wages, and a consistent decline in inflation. While MAGA Republicans in Congress have chosen to dismiss the success of this historic legislation, President Biden and his congressional allies continue to prioritize creating breathing room for hardworking families nationwide — from homeowner and renters’ assistance to lowering the cost of health care. Thanks to President Biden’s agenda, we navigated the pandemic with a pragmatic approach that enabled us to move forward safely and set our sights on building a better, stronger union.”

Over the past three years, the American Rescue Plan signed into law by President Biden has made a major impact across the country. In Arizona, the American Rescue Plan:

• Delivered 3.6 million economic relief payments of up to $1,400 to Arizonans.
• Cut premiums for the average Arizona family of four receiving health care through the Affordable Care Act by $544 a month.
  • Thanks to the Inflation Reduction Act, these health care savings are still available through 2025.
• Sent monthly child tax cuts to the families of in Arizona.
• Delivered over $2.5 billion to help Arizona’s schools reopen safely and effectively.
• Delivered nearly $200 million to Arizona homeowners to assist with their mortgages and nearly $390 million to Arizona renters to assist with paying their rent.
• Delivered an additional $23.6 million in late 2021 to Arizonans eligible for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP).
• Assisted in providing emergency financial relief to over 297,000 students in Arizona, totaling over $377 million.

Read about the full impacts of the American Rescue Plan across the country and by state at BidenEconomyFacts.com.

The American Rescue Plan has created 4.8 million jobs and increased average hourly earnings by $0.93 while not raising a penny of taxes for anyone earning less than $400,000 a year. See below for a sampling of what Arizonans have read about its impact since it was signed into law by President Biden:

Litchfield Park Independent: Avondale, Tolleson receive funding for food-insecure residents

This money, part of Maricopa County’s allocation of federal American Rescue Plan Act dollars, will be used to provide operational grants to distribute shelf-stable food, fresh food, federal commodities, grocery donations, and fresh produce to both food-insecure populations and agencies that support food-insecure populations across the county.

Navajo Times: Groundbreaking for fixed wireless to serve 600 Diné families

The NNBO approved the project from the $2 billion American Rescue Plan Act funds provided to the Navajo Nation in 2021. The funding was distributed to the NNBO through the Navajo Nation Fiscal Recovery Fund Office (FRFO).

KTAR: Arizona Gov. Hobbs taps $5 million in American Rescue Plan Act funds for legal aid programs

The $5 million comes from the American Rescue Plan Act and was provided through a contract with the Arizona Department of Economic Security (DES).