Governor Northam releases statement on approval of American Rescue Plan Funding

On August 9, 2021, Governor Northam released the following statement on the passage of HB 7001, which distributes $4.3 billion in federal assistance from the American Rescue Plan.

Governor Northam: I join Virginians in thanking the General Assembly for their hard work over many difficult months.

Together, we are using the American Rescue Plan to invest boldly and build Virginia back better. Starting this week:

• Businesses across the Commonwealth will be protected from tax hikes to replenish the unemployment fund—so they can invest in their workforce instead.

• Law enforcement officers and first responders will get a well-deserved raise, and violence prevention programs have the support they need to keep communities safe.

• More Virginians will have access to the high-quality behavioral health care they need, including strong community-based services.

• A college degree will be possible for thousands of Virginia students who would have been otherwise unable to afford it.

• Children in public schools will breathe cleaner air this fall—keeping them safer as they return to in-person learning.

• All families, schools, and businesses across our Commonwealth will have access to broadband by 2024—beating our goal of universal coverage by 4 years.

This generational opportunity is a result of strong leadership.

Leaders in the General Assembly have worked hand-in-hand with my team to build our roaring economy—and it’s paying off. Our unemployment rate remains below our neighbors and is significantly lower than the national average, we have avoided devastating cuts to state government and critical services, and our Commonwealth has an historic $2.6 billion surplus.

While other states are closing budget gaps, we are investing in Virginians. We have consistently put resources into helping families, businesses, and communities recover from this pandemic and prepare for the future.

Let’s keep building upon this progress.

HB 7001 allocates approximately $3.5 billion of the $4.3 billion in funding provided by the American Rescue Plan. The remaining $761 million remains available for programming in light of the evolving pandemic and will be considered by the General Assembly when they convene next January.

President Biden signed the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 into law in March. It is a $1.9 trillion economic recovery plan that includes $350 billion in emergency funding for state, local, territorial, and Tribal governments. All Republican members of Congress voted against the law, including those representing Virginia.