This week, Assemblyman Charles D. Fall (D-Richmond) and U.S. Senate Majority Leader, Senator Chuck Schumer (D-NY) held a virtual meeting with faith-based leaders and advocates to discuss access of federal aid to houses of worship and schools. The meeting, which had over one hundred participants was entitled, “Accessing COVID-19 Relief for Houses of Worship & Schools.”

The meetings primary focus was on the critically necessary $1.9 trillion federal funding that was passed and signed into law earlier this month, commonly known as the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021. Through the efforts of Senator Schumer, New York State is projected to receive approximately $24 billion in federal aid to assist in the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

The American Rescue Plan was signed on March 11, 2021 and specifically drafted as the largest anti-poverty act ever passed by Congress. Senator Schumer commented that the funding was drafted and passed to supplement low- and middle-class families through earned income and childcare credit, extend and expand unemployment insurance, funding for private and public schools, in efforts to fully reopen, Pell Grant subsidy to assist college students, provide much needed Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) assistance to small businesses, houses of worship, art and entertainment venues, rent and landlord assistance and school-based health clinics.

Question and comment from participants, mainly focused on praise for the work Senator Schumer and Assemblyman Fall have done both on the federal and state level with assisting all New Yorker’s. Many participants centered their questions on how to access this funding for their mosques, synagogues and churches. Both Senator Schumer and Assemblyman Fall were adamant in relaying the message to contact their offices for assistance and guidance on applying for funding.

Assemblyman Charles D. Fall, “I want to first thank Majority Leader Schumer for co-hosting this informative event, Imam Tahir Kukiqi and Bishop Victor Brown for the opening and closing prayers and extend out a special appreciation for the faith-based leaders and advocates that participated and assist our communities daily. I remain committed to assisting and advocating for the residents of the 61^st Assembly District.”

United States Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, “I was proud to join my good friend Assemblyman Charles Fall and the many faith-based and community leaders from Staten Island to discuss the federal aid secured in both the American Rescue Plan and previous COVID relief bills. In the American Rescue Plan, we secured $100 billion for New York’s workers, families, small businesses, hard-hit industries, houses of worship, schools, and more – the things we need to support to weather and recover from this crisis. Now I am committed to getting the word out about available relief and assisting all those eligible in accessing it, and faith-based leaders are critical to spreading the good news to the whole community.”