Press Releases

(As prepared for delivery)

Over four long days and through 66 amendments, we have debated measures ranging from 12 weeks of universal paid family and medical leave to incentivizing the development and use of green energy to combat climate change. All of these measures are grounded in the goal of growing our economy and making it more inclusive and sustainable for the future.

It’s notable that we are advancing this historic slate of life-changing measures on the same day that millions of families received their third installment of the expanded Child Tax Credit. This tax cut is a proven tool to help families afford necessities, to support economic growth, and to reduce child poverty.

We are responsibly funding these policies by simply asking those who are doing extremely well to pay just a bit more, so that all members of the American family can live with dignity and stability.

As parts, each individual measure we’ve approved has the potential to change lives. Taken together, these investments will transform our society to be more prosperous, equitable, and fair. It’s what the American people deserve.

This markup has been historic, but we won’t stop until President Biden has signed this package into law. Now is not the time to skimp on these investments. These are the standards Democrats should be setting, and the nation is on our side.

I want to thank the many people who have worked tirelessly to make this possible. I thank all of my colleagues for their service and engagement, and I want to thank the terrific staff of the Ways and Means Committee who have worked around the clock throughout this pandemic to help our country in this time of crisis. We are also all very grateful to the staff of the Joint Committee on Taxation, the Congressional Budget Office, and the Office of the Legislative Counsel.

Building back better is well within reach, and I urge my colleagues to support these critical provisions.

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