American Rescue Plan Boosted Pay of 740,000 Pandemic Workers

The Biden administration’s $350 billion state and local aid package provided hazard pay or bonuses for more than 740,000 workers on the front lines of the pandemic.

First responders, teachers and other government employees “deserve to be compensated for keeping society running during the pandemic,” Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said during an online press briefing Wednesday, at which federal and local officials gave new details on programs financed by last year’s $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan.

States and cities received a massive aid infusion in part to prevent job losses that could hold back the economic recovery with budget cuts. ...