Remember the $1.9 TRILLION bill that Joe Biden and democrats pushed through Congress back in early 2021?
The American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), as they called it, was meant to help Americans dig themselves out from the economic hardships brought forth by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Seems like a good cause, right?
It may have been, if the money went where everyone believed it was going.
Unfortunately, that wasn’t the case.
A Fox News report reveals that much of that money has gone to things that had nothing to do with the pandemic.
The report states that money went towards items such as an armored SWAT vehicle, school vape detectors, a “restorative justice” educational program, and a green energy program…
Also, a significant portion of the money hasn’t even been spent yet!
Always read the fine print…
A new report tracks where Covid relief funds are going. You won't like it one bit.https://t.co/Dt8JddfBVa
— Kyle Becker (@kylenabecker) September 5, 2022
Becker News reported on the misplaced funds:
The American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) was a $1.9 trillion bill that Democrats rammed through Congress on a party-line vote in early 2021. But with the Covid pandemic almost entirely contained, and spending-fueled inflation still uncurbed, many Americans are wondering nearly two years later if we need a ‘rescue plan’ for the American Rescue Plan.
ARPA was sold as an emergency measure to help the United States address the COVID-19 pandemic and its economic impact. But according to a recent Fox News report, “just 12% of the over $100 billion earmarked for elementary and secondary schools” has been spent so far, according to federal statistics. And at the end of March 2022, “only about $70 billion of the $350 billion allocated for state and local governments had been spent. Just over $100 billion of that money was contractually committed to be spent.”
While much of ARPA that has been spent undoubtedly went to the Covid response, there is much that has gone to non-Covid items, and much of the budgeted funds are still untapped.
The Fox News report cites a Treasury spokesperson that indicates that at least 67% of the money available to state and local governments was budgeted through March, when available funding was “just under $225 billion.”
Biden signed the bill back in early 2021:
President Biden signs the $1.9 trillion COVID relief bill. The American Rescue Plan is now law. pic.twitter.com/VPp2VfkHeq
— The Recount (@therecount) March 11, 2021
Funds from $1.9 trillion emergency COVID aid package used for restorative justice, racial healing https://t.co/khrAqAUTSv pic.twitter.com/kzbTbTb7tP
— BPR (@BIZPACReview) September 3, 2022
What do an armored SWAT vehicle in Pittsburgh and "restorative justice" educational discipline in New York City have in common? They're all funded by federal taxpayers through the hastily-passed American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) advanced through Congress in early 2021 (COVID) 🙄
— Tim Olson (@TimOlson1010) September 2, 2022
Emergency COVID money from early 2021 bill slow to be spent, goes to many non-COVID uses https://t.co/5gcoDhPwCp
— Fox News (@FoxNews) September 2, 2022
Fox News reported on where some of the “emergency” COVID funds went:
Among the spending tenuously related to the pandemic, Minneapolis allocated $300,000 to, “Promote healing and positive activation in the Black community to build and implement a larger vision of an equitable and resilient recovery from COVID-19 and racial trauma. These pop-up style events will help address the need for healing and social cohesion.” This is according to a tracker of funding for large cities and counties run by the liberal-leaning Brookings Institution.
Allegheny County, Pa., which includes Pittsburgh, purchased a “new armored rescue vehicle” for its SWAT team for over $300,000 to replace a previous aging one. That represents less than 1% of the overall funding the county got received, and it fell under an eligible category for the funds of “revenue replacement” for “provision of government services.” But it’s just one of many examples nationwide of funding going to things voters might not have expected COVID-19 funding to go toward.
New York City budgeted nearly $4.9 million for a “No Stopping New York” ad campaign, according to the Brookings Institution tracker.
Montgomery County, Ala., public schools said in its expenditure plan that it will install “vape detectors to prevent, close contacts, the sharing of paraphernalia, and the possibility of further lung damage in the instance a student contracts COVID 19.”
New York City Public Schools budgeted $12,308,279 of its American Rescue Plan money to expand controversial “restorative justice” educational discipline practices “to all middle and high schools citywide.”
Minneapolis also allocated more than $3 million for a “Green Cost Share Program… focused on energy efficiency and renewable energy in, BIOPOC communities, and low income housing,” also per Brookings.
"restorative justice" programs
Racial healing pop-ups
School vape detectors
All funded by taxpayers in the name of Covid. Shocker! https://t.co/gkgJFsHQ8N
— Congressman Troy E. Nehls (@RepTroyNehls) September 2, 2022
In Franklin County, Missouri, the sheriff’s department recently got $2.6 million in federal COVID relief aid. $334,715 went to buy a new armored SWAT vehicle, because they didn’t like their old one. They’re also getting a new shooting range for $250,000. https://t.co/rx7cQOYFPh
— Nick Wing (@nickpwing) March 30, 2022
They keep wasting YOUR money…
White House asks Congress for $47 billion in emergency funds, including:
Another $22 billion for covid
Another $14 billion for Ukraine
$6.7B for natural disasters like Kentucky flooding@TonyRomm https://t.co/bPnhKkMfcU— Jeff Stein (@JStein_WaPo) September 2, 2022
No. No more. Not one more cent.
After diverting COVID funds to migrant shelters, disgraced Biden asks Congress for $47 BILLION more in emergency aid for Ukraine, COVID, monkeypox & natural disasters #Impeach #ImpeachBiden #NoMore #MoneyLaundering 🤑https://t.co/RlIu7rzOmT
— Rosie 🇺🇸🌹 (@Istillwantapony) September 2, 2022
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