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In response to economic challenges stemming from the pandemic, the Biden-Harris administration and Congressional Democrats set up the first program in U.S. history to provide flexible fiscal relief directly to small and mid-sized counties and cities, in addition to states, Territories, and Tribal governments. This American Rescue Plan program, known as the “State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds” (Recovery Funds), gave governments across the country both the resources and the flexibility to invest in local needs. The program has brought billions of dollars to areas that previously haven’t accessed high levels of federal investment and has provided evidence that, when given access to adequate federal funding, local leaders will make investments that drive the U.S. economy from the ground up.
The U.S. economy has performed much better under Democratic presidents than Republican presidents in the modern era. In almost every measure of the U.S. economy including total job growth, unemployment, economic growth, manufacturing job growth, manufacturing investment, small business creation, and contribution to the national debt, economic performance is stronger under Democrats.
Many U.S. public school buildings are in dire need of renovations, as the average age of U.S. school buildings is approximately 49 years, and an estimated 53% have never undergone any major renovations. By renovating, upgrading, and improving the resilience of school buildings, schools can maintain a safe and modern learning environment for students and faculty and be better prepared for extreme weather events exacerbated by climate change like wildfires and heat.
Each month, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) releases national and state-level data on U.S. employment, which provide useful information about the state of the labor market and progress toward building a better America. The below map and chart created by the Joint Economic Committee highlight key trends in the most recent monthly data for all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico. The most recent state-level data, which cover the month of August 2024, were released on September 20th, 2024.