Speaker Shekarchi, Senate President Ruggerio, Governor McKee announce legislature’s commitment to act on governor’s RI Rebounds plan for initial, near-term American Rescue Plan spending
House Speaker K. Joseph Shekarchi, Senate President Dominick J. Ruggerio and Governor Dan McKee today announced the legislature’s commitment to act on the governor’s RI Rebounds proposal, an initial investment of 10 percent of the state’s $1.13 billion American Rescue Plan State Fiscal Recovery Funds to make a down payment on Rhode Island’s recovery. They also announced tens of millions of dollars in additional federal funding to support home- and community-based services and the state’s Early Intervention program for children with developmental needs.
The Speaker and Senate President announced the legislature’s commitment to act on the Governor’s RI Rebounds Proposal, bringing it to a vote in the finance committees next week.
The Governor’s original RI Rebounds proposal, submitted to the legislature for approval in October, invests $113 million to jumpstart Rhode Island’s recovery. The proposal includes $38.5 million to support children, families, and social supports; $32 million to assist small businesses impacted by COVID-19; $29.5 million to promote affordable housing, housing stability supports and broadband; and $13 million for hard-hit tourism, hospitality and event industries.
The Governor, Speaker and Senate President also pledged to add an additional $6 million to address growing child care needs.
“The House has been collaboratively working with the Senate and Governor McKee for several months to ensure that the ARPA funding is spent wisely and invested in a long-term sustainable manner,” House Speaker K. Joseph Shekarchi said. “After several hearings, our House Finance Committee will soon consider an initial investment of $119 million for affordable housing, children’s and family services, child care, and assistance for small businesses and the tourism and hospitality industries. In addition, after listening closely to the members of our House Democratic Caucus, we successfully came to an agreement with the Governor to immediately invest more than $3 million in CARES Act dollars to support critical Early Intervention services. I am also pleased to join in the announcement of $57.4 million of federal medical assistance funding to support thousands of home and community-based direct care workers.”
Click here for more information.