FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 9, 2021
Contact: Kenny Palmer | press@indivisible.org
WASHINGTON, D.C.—Today the Senate Budget Committee released the text of the budget resolution, the first phase of passing a sweeping budget reconciliation bill that could deliver on a host of long-held progressive priorities. Leah Greenberg, Co-Executive Director of Indivisible issued the following statement:
“This budget resolution is the first step towards realizing the demands that Indivisibles and activists across the country have been fighting for: an inclusive recovery bill that invests in our communities and addresses the overlapping crises we face. Indivisible is proud to be standing side-by-side with progressive leaders in Congress who have championed our cause.
“In particular, we are glad to see this resolution allows for each of our priorities to be included in the final reconciliation package. These priorities are:
- A pathway to citizenship for millions of undocumented immigrants including DACA recipients, TPS holders, and essential workers;
- Lowering prescription drug prices and expanding Medicare benefits to cover vision, dental, and hearing while lowering the eligibility age;
- Centering climate investments, including by establishing a Clean Energy Standard, investing in green jobs through a Civilian Climate Corps, and ensuring at least 40 percent of climate investments are directed to disadvantaged communities;
- Finally investing in our care economy, by creating a federal paid family and medical leave program that covers all workers, a universal child care program that is affordable to all families and pays child care workers a living wage, and improving Medicaid home and community-based services by creating better caregiving jobs and ensuring care is affordable for aging relatives or people with disabilities;
- Dedicating significant resources to housing justice by making rental assistance universal for all renters who qualify, prioritizing affordable and public housing investments including repairs and upgrades to public housing, and prioritizing funds for unsheltered populations and low-income renters.
“We recognize the large scope of these demands, but this moment calls for bold action on all fronts. We call upon both the Senate and House to quickly pass this resolution, while opposing all attempts to weaken it or limit ambition in the amendment process. Congress must immediately turn its attention to drafting reconciliation legislation that delivers on these key demands with sufficient funding to implement them successfully, and progressive voices must be at the table as decisions are made.
“We also reiterate that there can be no inclusive recovery if we rely only on a pared down, bipartisan package, and efforts to threaten the reconciliation package must be overruled. Progressives have been demanding an inclusive recovery since April that includes affordable housing, Medicare expansion, strengthening the care economy, climate action, and a roadmap to citizenship. Since May, Congressional Progressive Caucus Chair Rep. Jayapal along with the CPC have called for a reconciliation bill to guarantee that Democrats can pass an inclusive recovery.
Progressive Caucus members like Rep. Jayapal, Rep. Ro Khanna, Rep. Ocasio-Cortez, Rep. Bush, Rep. Newman, Rep. Bowman, Rep. Chuy Garcia, Rep. Jones, Rep Tlaib, Rep. Omar, Rep. Gallego, Rep Barragán, Rep. Jacobs, Rep. Clarke, Rep. Welch, Rep. Stansbury, Rep. Dingell, Rep. DeFazio, Rep. Schakowsky, Rep. Andy Levin, Rep. Barbara Lee, Rep. Porter, Rep. Chu, Rep. Pressley, Rep. Ritchie Torres, Rep. Doggett, Rep. Espaillat, and others have all demonstrated a critical show of progressive power in recovery negotiations beginning in June and continuing through the summer. They have demanded that bold climate action, investments in the care economy, affordable housing, Medicare expansion, and the establishment of a just economy must be taken in the reconciliation bill. These progressive champions showed they are not willing to compromise the fate of the planet, workers, or justice on a bipartisan deal. We applaud the staunch advocacy of these champions and others who have repeatedly made the case that Democrats must deliver on the full list of priorities.
“When it comes to reconciliation, Democrats must go big, go fast, and get it right.”
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ABOUT THE INDIVISIBLE PROJECT
The Indivisible Project (501c4) is a social movement non-profit driven by a vision of a real democracy - of, by, and for the people. Indivisible began in 2016 as a viral guide to resisting Trump’s agenda. Today, the Indivisible movement is a network of thousands of local groups and millions of activists across every state. The Indivisible Project drives campaigns for bold progressive policies, lobbies Congress, and equips activists with tools to build lasting progressive power, everywhere. Together, we fight to defeat the rightwing takeover of American government and build an inclusive democracy.