On Thursday afternoon, President Joe Biden signed the American Rescue Plan, a $1.9-trillion stimulus package aimed at helping workers and companies that have been adversely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. It contains a number of provisions that are expected to help actors and the arts community, including a 100% COBRA subsidy for six months through Sept. 30, $1,400 stimulus checks, and extending unemployment benefits to Sept. 6. The plan also provides $135 million to the National Endowment for the Arts to supply grants to artistic institutions.
Said Biden before signing the bill: “This historic legislation is about rebuilding the backbone of this country and giving the people of this nation, working people, the middle-class folks, people who built the country a fighting chance.”
The Plan has been met with support by both SAG-AFTRA and Actors’ Equity Association.
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