Dear Editor,
Like a 60 degree day in March, President Biden’s leadership on Covid-19 is a welcome sign of renewal.
I’m referring to Mr. Biden’s American Rescue Plan, passed by a Democratic majority in Congress. The Plan is a Godsend, especially to rural communities.
Here’s a short list of what the Plan does to benefit us:
- $4 billion to buy and distribute American dairy products, meat, and produce.
- Grants to small and mid-size food processors to upgrade equipment and improve safety.
- $8.5 billion for rural hospitals.
- $29 billion in grants for small and mid-size restaurants. The grants can be used to buy food inventory, which benefits producers and processors.
- Direct aid to local governments, including $12.5 million for Sauk County, $9.9 million to Grant County, $4.5 million to Iowa County, and $3.3 million for Richland County.
- $1.4 billion for Wisconsin’s K-12 schools, tied to opening for in-person instruction.
It will take a lot of money to jolt the economy back into action. Democrats chose wisely by spending that money on communities that feed America and make it strong.
The American Rescue Plan is not the last word. There is plenty of work to do on vaccinations and reopening schools. But, like that first robin of spring, Mr. Biden’s leadership gives me hope.
—Tripp Stroud
Avoca, WI