DeLauro Votes to Pass Build Back Better Act

From Health Care to Child Care and More, Once-In-A-Generation Action Lowers the Everyday Costs that Burden Working Families

WASHINGTON, DC — House Appropriations Committee Chair Rosa DeLauro (CT-03) today voted to pass the Build Back Better Act delivering once-in-a-generation investments to lower the everyday costs that burden working families. From lowering health care, child care, and family care costs to making the largest investment to combat the climate crisis in United States history, this legislation cuts taxes and is fully paid for making big corporations and the wealthiest pay their fair share.

The Build Back Better Act also includes paid family and medical leave and a one-year extension of the expanded and improved Child Tax Credit, policies DeLauro has championed for decades and pushed to include in this historic package.

"The Build Back Better Act delivers a once-in-a-generation investment in children, families, and caregivers – and finally a scale of investment in combatting climate change that cannot wait," said Congresswoman DeLauro. "People are struggling with their bills and taxes and need a government that looks out for the middle class, working families, small businesses, and the vulnerable who work hard. By making the top one percent and biggest corporations pay their fair share, we can invest in education and child care, reduce drug and health care costs, and lower taxes for the people of Connecticut. We are making the investments that will shape our economy in a way that meets this critical moment."

"I am particularly proud that the Build Back Better Act expands and improves the Child Tax Credit, the biggest cut in taxes for working families with children – a groundbreaking policy that I have been fighting to implement for nearly 20 years," DeLauro continued. "And I am so proud that this package includes paid family and medical leave, which finally responds to the needs of workers and families so they can take time off to care for themselves or a loved one. While we must make these improvements to the Child Tax Credit permanent and continue to fight for 12 weeks of paid family and medical leave nationwide, as Connecticut has, the inclusion of these investments is a critical step in the right direction. Our work does not stop here."

The Build Back Better Act is transformative for every Connecticut family, delivers historic investments that meet their needs in the wake of the pandemic, and ensures that all can share in the benefits of a growing economy now, and for generations to come. These needs include:

• Lower taxes: before DeLauro secured the expanded Child Tax Credit in the American Rescue Plan, 13 percent of children in Connecticut lived in poverty. The Build Back Better Act extends this life-changing tax cut and continues our progress toward reducing child poverty. It also bolsters financial security and spurs economic growth in Connecticut by reducing taxes on the middle class and those striving to break into it.
• Child care: the average annual cost for child care in Connecticut is $16,000. The Build Back Better Act will enable Connecticut to provide access to child care to nearly 180,000 young children per year and ensure that no Connecticut family earning up to an estimated $200,000 will pay more than seven percent of their income on child care.
• Early education: only eight percent of 3- and 4-year-olds in Connecticut have access to publicly funded pre-K, while the average annual cost of private pre-K in the state is $8,600. The Build Back Better Act will expand access to free, high-quality pre-K to more than 56,000 additional 3- and 4-year-olds in Connecticut– setting these children up for lifelong success and saving their parents thousands of dollars.
• Health care: expanding Medicare benefits to include hearing aids, reducing drug costs, and dramatically cutting health insurance premiums on health exchanges like Access Health CT. It makes home and community based services for seniors or loved ones with disabilities more affordable and accessible.
• Climate impacts: Connecticut has experienced 15 extreme weather events over the last decade, which have cost Connecticut families more than $5 billion in damages. By reducing carbon pollution, bolstering community resilience and strengthening the American clean energy economy, the Build Back Better Act will create good-paying union jobs, advance environmental justice, and save Connecticut families the steep costs of recovery.
• The Build Back Better framework also makes generational investments in higher education, workforce training, affordable housing, nutrition assistance, and more.

"I believe the Build Back Better Act ranks alongside the New Deal and Great Society," said Congresswoman DeLauro. "We have an opportunity to build the architecture for the future. Working and middle-class families across the country are counting on us. We must seize this opportunity with action, with hope, and with a unity of purpose for a better, stronger America.

DeLauro's remarks in support of the Build Back Better Act can be found here.