HARRISBURG, March 25 – To make sure funding from the federal American Rescue Plan is invested to do the most good to help the most people, today PA House Democratic leaders proposed the Pennsylvania Rescue Plan to direct dollars for immediate impact and long-term success.

“Now that we’re breaking records getting people vaccinated and there is truly hope on the horizon, we need to make sure we’re directing those American Rescue Plan dollars to the people who’ve been hit the hardest by COVID’s impact on our economy,” House Democratic Leader Joanna McClinton, D-Phila./Delaware, said. “From supporting businesses that couldn’t go virtual to helping workers who need help paying for training or college, the House Democrats’ PA Rescue Plan is our best path to recovery.”

“There’s been a lot of talk about helping our essential workers, but we’re not talking -- we’re getting it done with the PA Rescue Plan,” House Democratic Whip Jordan Harris, D-Phila., said. “We’re getting a long-overdue pay raise to healthcare workers caring for our most vulnerable, we’re delivering paid sick leave so workers don’t have to risk their health or the health of their customers and we’re giving workers the power to prepare for retirement – because nobody should have to work until the day they die.”

“Beyond actually getting people vaccinated, the quickest path to Pennsylvania’s recovery is supporting high quality and affordable education and job training,” House Democratic Appropriations Chairman Matt Bradford, D-Montgomery, said. “The PA Rescue Plan supports students who choose careers in on-demand industries like health care and energy, helps pay for training and community college, and helps students and schools everywhere get connected to high-speed internet.”

Some key components of the Pennsylvania Rescue Plan include:

Investments in Businesses

• $250 million to businesses unable to stay open or work remotely due to COVID-19.
• $500 million to create jobs and kickstart the economy in local communities.
• $200 million to connect everyone to high-speed internet and vital infrastructure.
• $50 million to tackle climate change and prioritize clean energy.
• $170 million to improve childcare for working parents. 

Public Health Infrastructure and Preparedness

• $511 million to train and pay direct care workers.
• $15 million to modernize public health infrastructure.
• $25 million to increase access to healthcare and telehealth.
• $200 million to repair or replace toxic school buildings.
• $75 million to invest in health care research and innovation.

Support for Families

• $250 million to expand property tax and rent relief.
• $250 million to promote affordable housing and local economies.
• $250 million in hazard pay for front line essential workers.
• $250 million to create a Paid Sick and Family Leave program.

Workforce Development

• $25 million in grants for students in high-demand career training and adult learners.
• $80 million to help community college students.
• $10 million in impact payments for those whose unemployment checks were delayed.
• $53 million for retirement savings plans for workers without an employer option

A more detailed breakdown of the PA Rescue Plan is available online.

The leaders said they look forward to working across the aisle, with state Senate leaders, and with the Wolf administration to put people first.