Rural WI families will receive stimulus checks, an historic increase in the child tax credit, ag and food supply chain investments, school funding, rural health care support and more

Today, Chris Gibbs, Board President of Rural Voices USA, the nationwide network of farmers and rural community leaders, released the following statement on Congressional passage of the American Rescue Plan. The bill, which invests in efforts to rebuild the American economy in the face of the COVID pandemic, will now go to President Biden to be signed into law.

“This is a major investment in the strength and future prosperity of rural Wisconsin. Rural communities have borne a heavy burden from COVID as we’ve helped feed and sustain our nation. This bill is an important step to help rural America rebound. We encourage all rural Americans to tune out the partisan noise and consider what benefits will flow to rural communities from this bill.

“Rural Wisconsin wins include badly needed stimulus check to the 25 percent of Wisconsinites living and working in rural communities, an historic increase in the child tax credit which families in nonmetro area benefit from more than families in other regions and over $10 billion in funding to strengthen agriculture and support America’s food supply chain. The bill also helps improve rural health care efforts in the wake of COVID, investments in vaccines, helps get rural teachers and students back in schools and support for our Main Street businesses.

“While this bill will be a lifeline to thousands of rural Wisconsin residents, it can’t be the last investment in building back our rural communities. Our network of rural leaders is looking forward to supporting major investments in rural roads, bridges, broadband and jobs this year. Rural communities stepped up to support Americans during COVID. It’s important that we return that help with support to help rural communities and families thrive in the years to come.”

How rural Wisconsin benefits from the American Rescue Plan:

  • Stimulus checks of up to $1,400 for the nearly one-quarter of Wisconsinites who live in rural areas that they will begin to receive as soon as this month. More. Wisconsin specific payment data here.
  • $10.4 billion in overall federal funding for ag and food supply chain programs. More
  • An increase in the child tax credit to $3,600 per child under 6 and $3,000 per child for children between the ages of 6 and 18. More Wisconsin specific payment data here.
  • Rural transit investments. See WI funding here.
  • Funding to help students and teachers return to school. Wisconsin specific funding data here.

Rural Voices USA is a 501 (c)4 non-profit bipartisan organization dedicated to ensuring the voices and views of rural Americans are heard in the policy debates impacting their lives. For more information visit https://www.ruralvoices.us/

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