Garamendi Secures Critical Funding to Re-Open Schools, Distribute Vaccines, Support Testing Programs, Extend Unemployment Benefits, and Send $1,400 Stimulus Checks to Americans
WASHINGTON, DC—Today, Congressman John Garamendi (D-CA-03) voted to pass the "American Rescue Plan" (H.R. 1319), which passed the U.S. House of Representatives by a vote of 219-212. The legislation includes much-needed relief to re-open schools, distribute vaccinations in every American community, send an additional $1,400 stimulus check to individuals, support small businesses, and extend unemployment benefits. The legislation codifies President Biden's COVID-19 relief plan into law and includes funding to support specific COVID-19-related initiatives in Congressman Garamendi's Congressional District.
"The COVID-19 pandemic is destroying lives, small businesses, and local communities across this nation as we enter the second year of its existence," Garamendi said. "Tragically, over 500,000 American lives have been lost to this virus, and millions more have been infected and are facing long-term health complications. The virus has also disrupted the economic livelihoods of 18 million Americans, who must now count on expanded unemployment benefits that are extended in this bill to keep food on the table.
"Children are being kept out of the classroom as we enter a second school year of remote learning, and communities are struggling to provide essential services to their residents. Congress has worked in a bipartisan manner to provide relief along the way, and I was pleased to vote for the American Rescue Plan: the boldest and strongest COVID-19 relief package to-date that provides much-needed support to put vaccines in arms, put children back in school, and put Americans back to work. The legislation provides much-needed funding for my Congressional District to address our specific needs in local health care, transportation, education, and other essential services," Garamendi continued.
"The ‘American Rescue Plan' also provides $1,400 in direct assistance to Americans, bringing the total—including the $600 down payment from December, 2020—to $2,000 per person. The bill also provides direct housing and nutrition assistance, extends and expands unemployment insurance to ensure Americans who have lost their job during the pandemic can afford to pay their bills, and expands the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) to support small businesses and their employees," Garamendi continued.
"I'm pleased that this bill passed the U.S. House of Representatives, and I will work to ensure it is swiftly passed in the Senate and signed into law so the American people immediately receive the relief and support they deserve," Garamendi continued.
EDUCATION
The "American Rescue Plan" (H.R. 1319) includes several different forms of federal financial assistance for Congressman Garamendi's district. That includes a portion of the $128 billion in direct funding to school districts nationwide to support remote learning, help K-12 programs safely reopen, and address lost time in the classroom.
Garamendi secured the following funds for local school districts:
COUNTY (ESTIMATED FUNDING LEVEL):
California Statewide Total: $14,293,604,000
Colusa County
Colusa Unified School District: $1,728,000
Maxwell Unified School District: $394,000
Pierce Joint Unified School District: $2,259,000
Princeton Joint Unified School District: $218,000
Williams Unified School District: $1,618,000
Glenn County
Capay Joint Union Elementary School District: $285,000
Lake Elementary School District: $7,000
Stony Creek Joint Unified School District: $482,000
Willows Unified School District: $2,608,000
Orland Unified School District: $5,445,000
Lake County
Konocti Unified School District: $14,581,000
Lakeport Unified School District: $3,414,000
Lucerne Elementary School District: $995,000
Middletown Unified School District: $2,586,000
Upper Lake Unified School District: $3,002,000
Sacramento County
Elverta Joint Elementary School District: $402,000
Solano County
Dixon Unified School District: $5,728,000
Fairfield-Suisun School District: $27,281,000
River Delta Joint Unified School District: $2,958,000
Travis Unified School District: $1,442,000
Vacaville Unified School District: $9,789,000
Sutter County
Browns Elementary School District: $148,000
Live Oak Unified School District: $5,132,000
Marcum-Illinois Union Elementary School District: $14,000
Nuestro Elementary School District: $189,000
Winship Robbins Elementary School District: $144,000
Yuba City Unified School District: $30,059,000
Brittan Elementary School District: $472,000
Franklin Elementary School District: $350,000
Sutter Union High School District: $310,000
Pleasant Grove Joint Union Elementary School District: $154,000
Meridian Elementary School District: $9,000
East Nicolaus Joint Union High School District: $117,000
Yolo County
Davis Joint Unified School District: $6,608,000
Esparto Unified School District: $1,224,000
Washington Unified School District: $17,564,000
Winters Joint Unified School District: $1,635,000
Woodland Joint Unified School District: $21,504,000
Yuba County
Marysville Joint Unified School District: $35,736,000
Plumas Lake Elementary School District: $1,058,000
Wheatland Elementary School District: $1,448,000
Wheatland Union High School District: $637,000
Camptonville Union Elementary School District: $150,000
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SUPPORT FOR ESSENTIAL SERVICES
The "American Rescue Plan" (H.R. 1319) also includes direct federal financial relief to local communities to help cover budget shortfalls they've experienced due to the COVID-19 pandemic so they can continue providing essential services.
Garamendi secured the following funding for cities and counties in his district:
STATEWIDE TOTAL FOR CALIFORNIA (ESTIMATED FUNDING LEVELS): $42.28 billion
- State of California: $26.264 billion
- CA Local Governments: $16 billion
DIRECT FEDERAL RELIEF – CITIES (ESTIMATED FUNDING LEVEL):
Clearlake: $2,900,000
Colusa: $1,100,000
Dixon: $3,900,000
Davis: $19,000,000
Fairfield: $21,000,000
Isleton: $159,000
Live Oak: $ 1,700,000
Marysville: $2,400,000
Orland: $1,500,000
Rio Vista: $1,900,000
Sacramento: $122,000,000
Suisun City: $5,600,000
Vacaville: $13,000,000
Wheatland: $730,000
Williams: $1,000,000
Willows: $1,100,000
Winters: $1,400,000
Woodland: $13,000,000
Yuba City: $17,000,000
DIRECT FEDERAL RELIEF – COUNTIES (ESTIMATED FUNDING LEVEL):
Colusa: $4,000,000
Glenn: $6,000,000
Lake: $12,000,000
Sacramento: $301,000,000
Solano: $87,000,000
Sutter: $19,000,000
Yolo County: $43,000,000
Yuba County: $15,000,000
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LOCAL PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION
The "American Rescue Plan" (H.R. 1319) also provides new federal funding to state, county, and municipal transportation agencies throughout the nation to help them provide essential services like public busing, airport service, and commuter rail service. Garamendi secured new federal public transportation funding for the following cities in and around his district:
BY CITY (ESTIMATED FUNDING LEVEL):
California Statewide for Rural Areas: $27,104,027
Davis: $830,150
Fairfield: $2,527,694
Sacramento: $117,799,667
Vacaville: $787,979
Woodland: $399,935
Yuba City: $1,573,407
Additionally, Garamendi helped secure $47,713,005 to support Sacramento International Airport (SMF) and $192,813,293 to support San Francisco International Airport (SFO).
According to the Solano Transportation Authority (STA), the COVID-19 pandemic created budget shortfalls of:
- Fairfield: $2,795,361
- Vacaville: $894,922
These budget shortfalls resulted in a 45% reduction of service for the SolanoExpress transit service. The funding that Congressman Garamendi secured today will restore this funding to pre-pandemic levels and allow SolanoExpress to transport essential workers and frontline health care workers who rely on SolanoExpress for their commute.
Additionally, Yolo County Transportation District reported that the funds Congressman Garamendi secured will:
- Cover fare revenue shortfalls for Yolobus brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic
- Fix Yolobus route and paratransit operating and capital costs associated with the redesign and reinstatement of transit services that were cut during the pandemic
- Increase peak hour service frequency of the main Yolobus intercity route
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"January 2021 saw the most COVID-19 deaths of any month since the start of the pandemic," Garamendi continued. "There are also 9.8 million fewer jobs in the U.S. than there were right before the start of the pandemic. This aid is urgently needed to save lives, jobs, and the wellbeing of our cities, states, and citizens. I won't rest until the ‘American Rescue Plan' becomes law and aid is in the American people's hands," Garamendi concluded.
The full text of the "American Rescue Plan" (H.R. 1319) can be viewed here.