Rep. Cindy Axne of West Des Moines represents Iowa’s Third Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives. Recently, Rep. Axne wrote an opinion piece in The Perry News about how the American Rescue Plan Act has benefited voters in her district.
Rep. Axne writes,
More than $200 million has gone to Iowa childcare centers that lost income due to the pandemic. Nearly a quarter of Iowans live in a childcare desert – where childcare options are scarce – and this shortage costs Iowa’s economy $935 million each year.
The American Rescue Plan also provided the state $100 million for much needed water infrastructure projects across Iowa. These projects include removing old pipes that contaminate our drinking water with lead, reducing flood risk and nutrient runoff and improving drought resiliency.
And $200 million has been provided to 39 communication companies across the state to provide broadband to some of the most rural parts of Iowa.
Something I often hear from Iowans concerns the lack of affordable housing options. The American Rescue Plan made a $100 million investment in housing to help ensure the state can keep up with the demand and help families keep a roof over their head with rental assistance.
There are some things that were included in the American Rescue Plan that worked so well that I’m fighting to make them permanent – like the child tax credit and ensuring telehealth visits will continue to be covered by insurance providers.
The Child Tax Credit put money back in Iowans’ pockets, lifted hundreds of Iowa families out of poverty and helped working families make ends meet.
