Frederica Freyberg:

President Joe Biden signed his first major piece of legislation Thursday, a $1.9 trillion pandemic aid package that promises to send $1400 checks to some Americans as early as this month. “Here & Now” Reporter Will Kenneally breaks down what’s in the massive bill and what it means for Wisconsin.

Will Kenneally:

This is the third major federal package related to the COVID-19 pandemic. After the CARES Act was passed last March and a smaller supplement was passed in December.

Joe Biden:

Thank you all. Appreciate it. Today I signed into law the American Rescue Plan, an historic piece of legislation that delivers immediate relief to millions of people.

Will Kenneally:

The new bill contains some of the provisions from the previous bills, including a $300 federal supplement for state unemployment benefits. The supplement was extended in December, but was set to expire this weekend. The extra $300 supplement will now run through this September.

Joe Biden:

I’m using every power I have as President of the United States to put us on a war footing to get the job done.

Will Kenneally:

For Wisconsin, the new relief bill sends roughly $3.2 billion in direct funds to the Badger State. Last year, Governor Tony Evers used some of the CARES Act money to help procure personal protective equipment for frontline workers as well as set up a series of grants to help industries affected by the pandemic, like lodging and entertainment. On top of this Wisconsin counties and municipalities will get roughly $2.5 billion in direct aid. Milwaukee, for example, will receive more than $400 million and cities like Madison, Racine and Green Bay will receive tens of millions. For individual Wisconsinites, some will receive a $1400 stimulus check from the federal government. The full amount will go to adults making less than $75,000 per year or couples making less than $150,000. Wisconsin parents will also get some help receiving $3,000 per child, with an extra $600 for children under six. As schools begin to open up, the federal package includes $125 billion for public schools nationwide to help fund renovations to ventilation systems, reduce class sizes and buy PPE. Also in the bill, $8.5 billion to help rural hospitals and $10.4 billion to help the agricultural sector. The ag sector funds will put toward COVID-19 mitigation among food producers and for debt forgiveness for minority farmers, which the USDA estimated in 2017 make up roughly 1400 of Wisconsin’s more than 100,000 food producers. For “Here & Now,” I’m Will Kenneally.