Special to The Truth
Last week, Congressional Black Caucus Chairwoman Joyce Beatty (OH-03) and members of the Congressional Black Caucus issued the following statement celebrating the passage of H.R. 5376, The Build Back Better Act:
“This is a historic day for America. House Democrats delivered on our promise to Build Back Better for the American people. The Build Back Better Act is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to lower everyday costs burdening working families – from health care to child care to housing – and, most importantly, is fully paid for by making big corporations & the wealthiest pay their fair share. I call that a win for America,” said Chairwoman Joyce Beatty. “We have worked hard to deliver impactful social spending for the American people, including:
* Lower Health Care Costs: negotiating lower drug costs for seniors, and expanding the ACA to make coverage more affordable for those who buy insurance on their own.
* The most transformative investment in children and caregiving in generations: expanding the fundamental promise of free schooling in America for the first time in 100 years with universal preschool for all 3- and 4-year olds; slashing families’ child care costs; extending the landmark Biden Child Tax Credit; and expanding access to affordable home care for older adults and those with disabilities.
* The single most significant and most comprehensive investment in affordable housing in history: $151 billion investment toward our nation’s affordable housing infrastructure, including funding to rehabilitate millions of affordable housing units, bring sustainable homeownership within reach for millions of first-generation homebuyers, eliminate the nation’s flood insurance program debt, and provide other critical investments in vulnerable communities across the country.
* The largest effort to combat climate change in American history: The $555 billion investment is the largest effort to combat the climate crisis in American history and sets the country on course to meet its climate targets, achieving a 50-52 percent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions below 2005 levels in 2030.
* More than $9 Billion in investments in HBCUs: The Build Back Better Act invests $3 billion in a competitive grant program to improve the research capacity and research and development infrastructure at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). The bill also invests $6 billion in institutional aid grants to HBCUs, which can be used by these institutions to strengthen their academic, administrative, and fiscal capabilities and award need-based financial aid to low-income students.”
And much more.
Beatty continued, “As with the Bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, the Congressional Black Caucus is proud to have played an active role in ensuring the needs of Black families were prioritized in The Build Back Better Act. This legislation will deliver meaningful outcomes for Black families and help build an America in which all can thrive. This is our power, fueled by our message.”