Urge Our Senators to Support Progressive Priorities in Build Back Better Bill

By MUUSJN on Thursday, December 9th, 2021

Call our Michigan Senators:

Sen. Gary Peters: 1-202-224-6221

Sen. Debbie Stabenow: 1-202-224-4822

Vote Expected this Month
Urge Their Full Support for a Strong Build Back Better Plan


BACKGROUND

The Michigan Unitarian Universalist Social Justice Network (MUUSJN) supports the $2 trillion Build Back Better (BBB) plan that some have described as the most transformative domestic policy agenda since the Great Society. It supports families, creates jobs, protects our environment and makes housing and health care more affordable. This bill was adopted in the U.S. House of Representatives on November 19th. Click HERE for more details of what’s in the House bill from a November 19th article in the Washington Post.

The BBB package now is in the Senate where, in consultation with the Senate parliamentarian, Senators are confirming that all bill provisions can be adopted within “reconciliation” rules that allow passage with 51 votes instead of being blocked by a filibuster. But this requires that all 50 Democrats and V.P. Harris would vote to support this package. Senator Joe Manchin and Senator Krysten Sinema have been persistent critics of the bill. President Biden and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer have a goal of getting this major legislation adopted before Christmas.

Build Back Better Provisions:

  1. Expand Medicaid & Medicare and extend improvements in the Affordable Care Act;
  2. Provides paid family leave to help families with health problems;
  3. Extend Child Tax Credit (it expires this month) and expands Earned Income Tax Credit;
  4. Housing Choice vouchers;
  5. Expand nutrition assistance for children;
  6. Allow Medicare to negotiate drug prices and to provide hearing aids;
  7. Provide universal preschool;
  8. Create good paying jobs that support climate justice.
  9. Require wealthy individuals and corporations to pay their fair share of taxes to help sustain the BBB plan and build a more just society.

CALL OUR SENATORS AND SAY:

  1. Thank our Senators for their support for a transformational Build Back Better plan!
  2. Urge our Senators to work to preserve the strong benefits in the House plan;
  3. Urge them to require wealthy individuals and corporations pay their fair share in taxes;
  4. Support the BBB for our families, create good paying jobs and protect our environment.

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