Supporting Wisconsinites with Federal ARPA Funds

For Immediate Release                                                                                             

April 14, 2021

Contact: Rep. Rick Gundrum                                                                                    

(608) 264-8486

Madison, WI – Representative Rick Gundrum (R-Slinger) voted for a package of legislation yesterday that uses one-time federal stimulus dollars from the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 to provide aid to Wisconsin families and businesses. After yesterday’s session, he released the following statement:

“It is critical that we be responsible with the $3.2 billion in federal funds Wisconsin has received through ARPA. The eleven bills I voted for yesterday are reflective of what I have been hearing from my constituents. This legislative package provides necessary relief to Wisconsinites.

“I am particularly excited with passage of Assembly Bill 236. As chairman of the Committee on Aging and Long-Term Care, I recognize how our nursing homes have suffered during the COVID-19 pandemic. AB 236 passed out of the Aging and Long-Term Care Committee last week so that we may appropriate $150 million of the federal funds to assist these facilities. The long-term care industry has suffered greatly from the COVID-19 pandemic and it is time we support them.

 “Our package of bills supports Wisconsinites several ways. Assembly Bill 232 uses $1 billion of the federal dollars to provide a ten percent payment to all property taxpayers. We know hardworking taxpayers were impacted by the pandemic and a tax refund is warranted. Assembly Bill 237 uses ARPA funds to replenish the unemployment insurance fund and keeps unemployment taxes at the lowest tax schedule through 2023 so that our employers aren’t overburdened. Assembly Bill 238 makes an important investment in our roads by dispersing $308 million of the ARPA funds to municipalities for much-needed road and bridge repairs.

“I hope Governor Tony Evers signs these bills into law. We need to come together on these shared priorities. Now is the time to put Wisconsin first.”

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