UPDATE: On Friday, November 19, the US House of Representatives passed the Build Back Better Act. The bill will now move to the Senate. Please urge your Senators to pass this vital piece of legislation.
The recent passage of the bipartisan infrastructure bill is a transformative win for communities across the United States. Millions of Americans will now have the tools and resources to take on long-overdue initiatives, including fixing old pipes for clean drinking water, investing in universal broadband so all children can enjoy the full social and educational benefits of the web, and moving communities to renewable energy sources that will make them more resilient to the effects of climate change.
We now turn our focus to ensuring the swift passage of the historic Build Back Better Act, acting on the conviction that infrastructure is a form of racial, social, and economic justice. This legislation is an expression of our core mission: to build a more compassionate and just society.
The Build Back Better Act will make transformative investments in the lives of those who need it most, including families, children, and those who continue to struggle on the margins. This $1.75 trillion package has been debated on and worked on for months between the House, Senate, and White House. In the spirit of compromise, now is the time for all parties to work together to pass a meaningful bill that will provide immediate and long-term economic relief.
As negotiations continue, JCJ is calling for key provisions to remain in the Bill. These provisions include:
- Paid Family Leave
- Targeted funding to combat homelessness
- Universal broadband
- Lowering the cost of prescription drugs
- Expansion to Medicaid
- Investments in reducing our carbon footprint and addressing climate justice.
Delivering the BBB to the president’s desk will require us to first and foremost hold congressional Democrats accountable to their promise to take up this overhaul of the social safety net. Only once this bill passes in the House can we begin to urge the Senate to put BBB on the President’s desk.
The Jewish Center for Justice is mobilizing Jewish communities and pro-democracy people of faith in support of the Build Back Better Act. As a Jewish community, we have long supported bills and measures aimed at expanding—not restricting—economic opportunities and government investment in the betterment of the lives of those who struggle. We know that when our government steps in to lend a helping hand to ensure that we make the economic lives of others easier, we all win.
Take action by contacting your U.S. Senators to urge them to support this important piece of legislation.
Find your Congressional Representative here.
U.S. Capitol Switchboard: (202) 224-3121
Background information about The Build Back Better Act:
- https://budget.house.gov/publications/report/build-back-better-act-transformative-investments-america-s-families-economy
- https://www.brookings.edu/blog/how-we-rise/2021/11/05/what-does-the-build-back-better-framework-mean-for-bipoc-communities/
Sample Call Script for House Representatives:
Hello my name is [YOUR NAME], and I am calling to urge Representative [NAME] to support The Build Back Better Act. As a member of the Jewish community, I believe The Build Back Better Act will help build a more compassionate and just society by making transformative investments in the lives of those who need it most. In the spirit of compromise, I urge all parties to work together and to pass a meaningful bill that will provide immediate and long-term economic relief.
Check back to the JCJ website and social media for updates on the progress of The Build Back Better Act.