On Wednesday, the Democratic-led House of Representatives passed the Senate version of the latest wave of relief in the face of the pandemic that's killed over 500 thousand Americans.
In addition to providing $1400 checks to single Americans making under $75 thousand per year, the American Rescue Plan preserves expanded unemployment benefits, slashes child poverty, and allocates for vaccine distribution initiatives, along with a slew of other lifelines to a nation for whom every aspect of life has been upended for over a year.
The passage marked the end of months of congressional wrangling to present a passable bill—an occasion celebrated by Democrats in Congress, especially House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA).
Among the many relief provisions, the American Rescue Plan also extends payroll protections for airline workers after travel restrictions sent the industry plummeting.
In a statement responding to passage of the bill, American Airlines celebrated the development and informed its recently furloughed workers that they wouldn't have to worry about a loss of income.
The statement reads in part:
"For our 13,000 colleagues who received Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) notices last month, those are happily canceled — you can tear them up!"
It went on to say:
"If you see your local Congressional representative on a flight, be sure to thank her or him for their work this past year and for recognizing the noble work you all do every day. We will need more time until vaccines are out in full force for demand for travel to significantly improve, but thanks to the extension of the PSP, our country and world can count on American Airlines to be ready."
Supporters of the bill celebrated with them.
Considering the bill didn't get a single Republican vote in the House or Senate, people made sure to alert the public whom to thank for its passage.
President Joe Biden is expected to sign the bill into law on Friday.
UPDATE 3/11/2021:
White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki announced that President Biden would sign the American Rescue Plan into law on Thursday, one day ahead of schedule.
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