WASHINGTON, DC – Rep. Dean Phillips (MN-03) voted in favor of the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, a COVID-19 relief package which passed the House early this morning. The plan is supported by a large, bipartisan majority of Americans and makes emergency investments in schools, families, unemployed workers, vaccine distribution, small businesses and local governments.
While the House bill seeks to raise the federal hourly minimum wage to $15, the Senate Parliamentarian ruled yesterday that the provision cannot be included in the Senate companion. Phillips has expressed concern about the inclusion of such a transformative policy in a COVID relief bill by means of budget reconciliation, and convened a House Small Business Oversight Subcommittee hearing this week to begin working on a bipartisan proposal that can pass through Congress and achieve the trifecta of livable wages, more jobs, and thriving small businesses. Watch the hearing here.
“Thousands of Minnesotans have reached out to my offices to demand action and ask for help,” said Phillips. “We must answer the call and deliver a strong bill that meets the moment. The American Rescue Plan is imperfect, but I believe it’s in our common interest to resource vaccinations, schools, local governments, small businesses, families, and unemployed workers during this once-in-a-lifetime crisis.”
In Congress, Phillips is on a mission to bring more federal investments back to Minnesota. The American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 will deliver more than $450 million to cities and counties in Minnesota’s Third District alone, a lifeline for mayors and county officials struggling to provide essential services as the economic and public health crises brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic enter a second year.
“I want to thank you for your help in providing us financial assistance through the Coronavirus Relief Fund in 2020. The City used 100% of the $2.8 million it received on public safety measures that helped maintain our city services and make our facilities safe,” Chaska Mayor Mark Windschitl wrote in a letter to Phillips ahead of the vote. “While that financial support helped, the City of Chaska has still been significantly impacted by the ongoing public health crisis… I would like to urge you to support additional state and local aid in the next coronavirus relief measure.”