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On-the-ground In Florida: Build Back Better Agenda Would Create Jobs, Lower Costs For Florida Families

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: October 19, 2021
PRESS CONTACT: [email protected]

ON-THE-GROUND IN FLORIDA: BUILD BACK BETTER AGENDA WOULD CREATE JOBS, LOWER COSTS FOR FLORIDA FAMILIES

Washington, D.C. — Together, the Build Back Better Agenda and the Bipartisan Infrastructure Deal will deliver critical investments Florida families need to build our economy and our communities back better than ever. The President’s full legislative agenda will invest in our nation’s future by lowering costs of essentials such as child care and prescription drugs for working families, fixing our nation’s broken infrastructure, tackling the climate crisis, cutting taxes for 50 million working and middle class families nationwide, and creating millions of good-paying jobs.

Floridians are united in the need to get the Build Back Better Agenda and the Bipartisan Infrastructure Deal across the finish line: 

“Americans overwhelmingly support a pathway to citizenship for immigrant communities, many of whom were on the frontlines of the pandemic we are emerging from,” said Stephanie Porta, Co-Executive Director of Florida Rising. “Here in Florida, the lives of nearly 1 million immigrants hang in the balance due to our broken immigration system. It’s time for Congress to act, and deliver on President Biden’s Build Back Better Agenda and provide a major step forward for the immigrant families who call Florida home.”

“Families in every part of our state are suffering harm because of the climate crisis and they know it’s a threat our lawmakers can no longer ignore,” said Aliki Moncrief, Executive Director, Florida Conservation Voters. “Congress must take action immediately — and that means passing the Build Back Better Agenda and the Bipartisan Infrastructure Deal to usher in a clean energy revolution that will lower greenhouse gas emissions, cut costs for everyday families, and create hundreds of thousands of good-paying jobs right here in Florida.

“Florida families strongly support these popular and much-needed investments that will provide a real boost to working and middle class people in our state,” said Rep. Fentrice Driskell, Policy Chair for the Florida House Democrats. “It’s time for leaders in Washington to do the important work to pass this legislation to lower costs for working people, create more good-paying jobs, and ensure the wealthiest finally pay their fair share. ”

“For far too long, working people in Florida have been left out and left behind. That’s why our members feel so much urgency around passing the Bipartisan Infrastructure Deal and the Build Back Better Agenda,” said Mike Williams, President of the Florida AFL-CIO.“Together, these bills make historic investments in working and middle class families by creating good-paying union jobs, lowering the cost of everyday essentials, and finally leveling the playing field so everyone gets a fair shot. Florida needs this legislation. It’s time for Congress to deliver.”

Key highlights of how the Build Back Better Agenda would boost working and middle class families in Florida:

  • Ease the burden on the middle class by lowering the costs of everyday essentials:
    • Save the average Florida family with two children $6,033 a year on child care.
    • Cut prescription drug costs for Floridians by up to 55 percent for some drugs by allowing Medicare to negotiate with drug companies.
  • Create millions of good-paying jobs nationwide, including:
    • Create more than 200,000 clean energy jobs in Florida.
    • Create 19,777 home care jobs in Florida.
  • Build an economy that rewards work, not wealth:
    • Extend the increased Earned Income Tax Credit for 1,303,000 low-wage workers in Florida.
  • Tackle the climate crisis while bringing down utility costs for Floridians:
    • Invest $11.1 billion in energy efficiency in Florida.
  • Make historic investment’s in Florida’s infrastructure:
    • Deliver $13.1 billion for federal-aid highway apportioned programs and $245 million for bridge replacement and repairs to address the over 3,564 miles of highway and 408 bridges in poor condition in Florida.
    • Improve healthy, sustainable transportation options, including by investing $2.6 billion in public transit and $198 million to expand Florida’s network of EV charging stations. 
  • Bring high-speed internet access to the at least 707,000 Floridians who lack access to broadband.
  • Invest $1.6 billion in Florida to eliminate lead pipes and provide clean drinking water to Florida who lack it.
  • Ensure families with children can make ends meet:
    • Provide a tax cut to the families of 3,833,000 Florida kids who benefit from the expanded Child Tax Credit.
    • Establish 12 weeks of paid family leave per year, up from 0 weeks currently in Florida.
  • Expand access to quality, affordable health care:
    • Expand Medicare to include dental, vision, and hearing coverage for the 2,408,000 Florida seniors currently enrolled in Medicare.
    • Expand Medicaid and provide health insurance coverage to 796,000 Floridians who were not previously eligible for coverage.
  • Provide a pathway to citizenship for millions of immigrant families, including:
    • For the 825,000 undocumented immigrants living in Florida.

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