ACTION ALERT: Pass the American Jobs and Families Plans
BACKGROUND
THE ISSUE: The American Jobs and American Families Plan are once-in-a-generation investments in our nation’s future. The American Jobs Plan requests $2 trillion over eight years to modernize the nation’s infrastructure and workforce. By modifying the tax code and adopting a corporate tax increase over 15 years as well as an increased tax rate on the wealthiest, President Biden’s plan is a historic investment that will create millions of good jobs, repair an aging transportation infrastructure, invest in manufacturing, build clean drinking water systems, upgrade the electrical grid and bring high-speed broadband to everyone. This plan also outlines many economic development and job growth initiatives like providing apprenticeships for women and others who need 21st-century skills. Action is desperately needed for an economy hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic and the millions who have lost their jobs or been forced to leave the paid workforce to care for families.
The American Families Plan includes $1.8 trillion in investments and tax credits for American families and children over 10 years. By investing in at least four years of free education, creating national comprehensive paid family leave, and extending key tax cuts that benefit lower and middle-income workers and families, the American Families Plan will grow the middle class, expand economic opportunities to all Americans, and reinvest in our nation’s children and families.
WHY IT MATTERS: With 3.7 million fewer women in the workforce, the pandemic has eroded decades of progress made by women in the labor force. Women are disproportionately facing economic instability and need bold reforms to get back to work. The American Jobs Plan will modernize schools, upgrade childcare centers, create good-paying, quality jobs, invest in a robust care infrastructure, and develop the workforce and new career pathways to open more opportunities for women and communities of color. Women and children are at the heart of this plan, and our nation’s economic recovery depends on addressing longstanding discrimination and barriers that have hampered women in the workforce.
The American Families Plan addresses families’ “kitchen table” concerns, such as childcare and education costs, paid family medical leave, and nutrition insecurity. It will help families cover basic expenses, lower health insurance premiums, and fight child poverty, so that American families may finally get some relief. This investment will pay for itself by developing our nation’s future workforce by offering two years of free universal pre-school and two years of free community college.
THE STATUS: President Joe Biden spoke about these two major initiatives in his address to the nation on Wednesday and though we expect that the Democrats in Congress are very supportive, the Republicans have indicated concerns over the trillions of dollars required. The President has invited the Republicans to sit down with him and work out a plan they could all support. But many observers believe that the Republicans will fight both major initiatives as they don’t want the Democrats to claim a victory. Polls show that a majority of the public likes these proposals. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) wants to pass the American Jobs Plan by July 4, and we expect that there will be a push to pass the American Families Act soon after that. The American Jobs plan and the American Families Plan will then face an uphill battle in the Senate.
TAKE ACTION
WHAT CAN I DO? Call your Representative and your Senators to urge them to support the American Jobs Plan and the American Families Plan.
HOW DO I DO IT? Don’t know who your House member is? Go to https://www.house.gov/representatives/find-your-representative and follow instructions. Or, for House members’ phone numbers, go to https://www.house.gov/representatives. Another option: send a message via a Representative’s official website by entering her/his name in the search window, and the website will appear. Write a short message using the information below. And you can always call the Capitol Switchboard at 202-224-3121.
To be connected to your senators’ offices, call the Capitol Switchboard at 202-224-3121. You can enter your state on this U.S. Senate Directory webpage and get contact information for both your senators, https://www.cop.senate.gov/senators/senators-contact.htm Or, if you know the names of your senators, you can go directly to their official websites and send a message. Calling and leaving a message is better; you can always call the senators in-state offices and leave a message.
WHAT DO I SAY? As a constituent, I urge you to support and vote for the American Jobs Plan and the American Families Plan. These plans are critical for our nation’s economic recovery and will help millions of women who have lost their jobs or force to leave the workforce to care for children. Millions of families are suffering as a result of the pandemic; hundreds of thousands of small businesses have closed or are barely hanging on. Major investment of the kind that President Biden is proposing is essential if this nation is to recover. Please support the American Jobs Plan and the American Families Plan.
SPREAD THE WORD
Contacting your representative and senators is just a start. Help us keep the conversation going by spreading the word on social media and urging others to take action. Below are some sample social media posts you can use:
- Our nation’s economic recovery depends on a bold plan like the American Jobs Plan! We must #BuildBackBetter with women, children, and equity at the forefront!
- The American Families Plan will offer economic support for #ChildCare, up to two years of #FreeCommunityCollege, and #HBCU’s! The #AmericanFamiliesPlan is a critical investment in our nation’s children and working families.
- Imagine what a difference #AffordableChildCare would make for working families. Americans need the #AmericanFamiliesPlan!
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES