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3/11/2021

Statement from Secretary of the Treasury Janet L. Yellen on the Passage of the American Rescue Plan | U.S. Departm…

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY
Statement from Secretary of the Treasury Janet L. Yellen on the
Passage of the American Rescue Plan
March 10, 2021

The numbers may not immediately reflect it, but today was a pivotal day for the American
economy.
From the time the pandemic began up until this very week, the economic data has contained
deep pockets of pain. Roughly 18 million people are still receiving unemployment insurance,
and nearly one million of the families relying on it say their children don’t have enough to
eat.
Upon taking o ice, I worried that many of these families would be haunted by the covid
economy long a er the health emergency was over. We know that when the foundations of
someone’s life collapse – when they lose a small business, or the roof over their head, or the
ability to eat dinner every night – it can scar them permanently; their ability to earn is forever
lowered. I worried this would happen on a mass scale, but now I am confident that it won’t.
With the passage of the American Rescue Plan, I believe Americans will emerge from the
pandemic with the foundations of their lives intact. And that is an enormous economic and
moral achievement for America.
Indeed, we are now charting a very di erent course out of this crisis compared to the one a
decade ago. Rather than a long, slow recovery, I expect we could reach full employment by
as soon as next year.
Our Treasury team will be doing everything we can to accelerate the recovery. We are ready
to get to work implementing the measures in the Rescue Plan, including economic impact
payments, expanded child tax credits, help for struggling renters and homeowners, and
support for state, local and tribal governments.
Of course, there will still be tough months ahead, but eventually, this law will help clear
away the immediate crisis in front of our eyes, and let us start building a better post-covid
future.

https://home.treasury.gov/news/press-releases/jy0052

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3/11/2021

Statement from Secretary of the Treasury Janet L. Yellen on the Passage of the American Rescue Plan | U.S. Departm…

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https://home.treasury.gov/news/press-releases/jy0052

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