American Rescue Plan is a major victory for Arizona children and families
The American Rescue Plan passed by Congress and signed by President Biden this week is a major victory for Arizona children and families. According to data released by the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, the expansion of the child tax credit alone will lift 112,000 Arizona children above the poverty line and will benefit more than 1.5 million Arizona children overall. This historic reduction in child poverty will particularly help children of color who have been disproportionately hard hit by the pandemic and its related economic and educational harms.
In addition to the expansion of the child tax credit, the relief package will provide Arizona with an estimated $780 million to expand child care assistance; $2.6 billion to help Arizona’s public schools reopen safely, and it extends increased food assistance benefits through September 30.
“This landmark legislation will greatly improve the well-being of Arizona’s children – through expanded child care assistance, resources so schools can reopen safely, more affordable health coverage, and aggressive measures to combat child poverty,” said David Lujan, interim President and CEO of Children’s Action Alliance. “We applaud Arizona’s congressional delegation who took swift action and supported this impactful legislation for Arizona’s families.”
This long-term crisis has been exacerbated by the devastating, inequitable impacts of COVID-19. Now, thanks to the passage of the American Rescue Plan, Arizona children, and families who have been hit the hardest will have severely needed resources to enable them to emerge from these challenging times with a pathway to a stronger future.
