One Year Later, Rep. Cleaver Highlights Unprecedented Job, Economic Growth Powered by Democrats’ American Rescue Plan

March 17, 2022
Press Release

(Washington, D.C.) – A year after the American Rescue Plan Act was signed into law by President Biden, U.S. Representative Emanuel Cleaver, II (D-MO) highlighted the impact of the historic rescue package, which led to more than 254,000,000 Americans receiving a vaccine, helped reopen schools and small businesses, put hardworking Missourians back to work, and supported local health care heroes, firefighters, police officers, and other frontline workers.

"When I voted for the American Rescue Plan last year, I did so to ensure hardworking families had money in their pockets, small businesses could stay afloat through the COVID recession, lifesaving vaccines would be made easily available, and students could safely return to the classroom where they belong," said Congressman Cleaver. "And by each of these metrics, the American Rescue Plan has resulted in an unprecedented recovery for Missouri and the American people. I'm proud to have supported the American Rescue Plan, which gave our state the tools and resources needed to save lives and livelihoods, and I will continue working with my colleagues in Congress to lower costs on working class Missourians, create good-paying jobs, and support the frontline workers who have played a pivotal role throughout the pandemic."

The Cleaver-supported American Rescue Plan has deployed billions in funds to help Missouri contain COVID-19 and build a strong, sustainable, and just economic recovery, including:

  • $2.68 billion for Missouri state and local governments, helping to preserve critical services, scale up testing, distribute vaccines, and keep essential workers on the job—including health care workers, firefighters, police officers, teachers, and other frontline workers;
  • $1.96 billion for Missouri schools, helping students safely return to in-person learning;
  • $1,400 relief checks delivered to 3.1 million Missourians;
  • $363.9 million in emergency rental assistance for Missourians, keeping a roof over working families' heads;
  • $721.3 million in child care funds for Missouri, helping early childhood educators and family child care providers keep their doors open; and
  • $667 million supporting 132 Missouri colleges and universities, including $188 million for community colleges and more than $38 million for 2 Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs).

Nationally, these investments have powered an unprecedented economic recovery that has delivered:

  • The greatest single year of job creation in American history, with 6.6 million jobs created in President Biden's first year and 7.4 million over the course of the Biden Administration, including nearly half a million manufacturing jobs—the most created in any year since 1994.
  • The fastest economic growth in almost 4 decades, with the national GDP growing at 5.7 percent last year—the fastest rate since 1984.
  • The biggest single year drop in the unemployment rate in our history, falling from 6.4 percent when Democrats took office to 3.8 percent now. When President Biden took office, over 18 million Americans were receiving unemployment benefits—now, only 2 million are.
  • A new record of 5.4 million new small businesses created, which is a full million more small businesses than in the year before.

"There is no question that our work is far from finished—but it's important to take stock of the progress made over the past year since the American Rescue Plan was signed into law," said Congressman Cleaver. "Thanks to the American Rescue Plan, we've seen unemployment plummet to less than 4 percent—something that wasn't expected for years, according to the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office. Now, as we continue working to lower costs for the American public, we must keep strengthening our supply chains, reduce prescription drug and health care costs, support critical services that working class families rely on, and do everything possible to combat the Putin Price Hike that is hurting Missourians at the gas pump."

Emanuel Cleaver, II is the U.S. Representative for Missouri's Fifth Congressional District, which includes Kansas City, Independence, Lee's Summit, Raytown, Grandview, Sugar Creek, Blue Springs, Grain Valley, Oak Grove, North Kansas City, Gladstone, Claycomo, and all of Ray, Lafayette, and Saline Counties. He is a member of the exclusive House Financial Services Committee; Chairman of the House Subcommittee on Housing, Community Development, and Insurance; member of the Select Committee on the Modernization of Congress; member of the Committee on Homeland Security; and a Senior Whip of the Democratic Caucus. A high-resolution photo of Congressman Cleaver is available here.