Three days after the Senate passed the America Rescue Plan stimulus and pandemic relief bill, the House followed suit.
The House passed the bill, with Senate changes, by a 220-211 margin. One Democrat voted against the bill, joining all 210 House Republicans. The bill headed to President Joe Biden, signed it into law Thursday afternoon.
The bill does not contain provisions directly related to the RV industry or the greater outdoors recreation economy. Its macroeconomic impact, however, could roll over into both industries.
The bill contains direct stimulus payments of $1,400 to most Americans and includes $46 billion to assist with pandemic tracing efforts and $170 billion to aid schools in reopening.
Biden said the bill had overwhelming bipartisan public support, and its passage by Congress told Americans “their voice has been heard.”
“Now we move forward with the resources needed to vaccinate the nation,” he said. “To get $1,400 in direct payments to 85 percent of American households. To expand coverage and help with lowering health care premiums. To give small businesses what they need to stay open. To expand unemployment insurance, provide food and nutrition assistance. To help keep a roof over people’s heads. To cut child poverty in half.
“This legislation is about giving the backbone of this nation – the essential workers, the working people who built this country, the people who keep this country going – a fighting chance,” Biden said. “On Friday, I look forward to signing the American Rescue Plan into law at the White House – a people’s law at the people’s house.”
