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The Need for Action in Washington
The pandemic and the associated economic crisis have had a severe impact on Washington. The need for action is clear:
- Since the pandemic began, more than 345,000 people have been infected with COVID-19 and more than 5,000 people have died.
- The unemployment rate is 6.3%, up from 4.1% before the pandemic.
- Since February 2020, more than 208,000 fewer people are employed.
- 413,000 adults – 8% of all adults in the state – report not having enough food to eat. This includes 219,000 adults living with children, or 11% of all adults living with children, who report that the children in their household do not have enough to eat.
- An estimated 228,000 renters or 12% of renters are not caught up on rent.
- An estimated 1.4 million adults or 26% of all adults statewide report having difficulty covering normal household expenses.
The Effect of the American Rescue Plan on Washington
President Biden’s American Rescue Plan will provide Washington with:
- $4.5 billion in state fiscal relief
- $2.7 billion in local fiscal relief
- More than $1.8 billion in relief for K-12 schools
- Economic impact payments of up to $1,400 per person (above the $600 per person provided in December) for more than 4.4 million adults and 1.6 million children. This is 80% of all adults in the state and 77% of all children in the state.
- Additional relief of up to $1,600 per child through the Child Tax Credit to the families of 1.4 million children, lifting 66,000 children out of poverty
- Additional relief of up to nearly $1,000 through the Earned Income Tax Credit to 360,000 childless workers, including many in frontline jobs
- Marketplace health insurance premiums that are $1,117 lower per month for a 60-year old couple earning $75,000 per year
