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

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

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

Washington, D.C. — Together, the Build Back Better Agenda and the Bipartisan Infrastructure Deal will deliver critical investments Virginia 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.

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

“From lowering the cost of essentials like health care to addressing traffic and other infrastructure challenges right here in Virginia, the Build Back Better Agenda and Bipartisan Infrastructure Deal will deliver serious progress to our Commonwealth,” said Delegate Elizabeth Guzmán, HD-31. “Virginians strongly support these key investments, and are ready to support our representatives in Congress in their work to pass these bills.”

“Virginia is counting on Congress to deliver historic investments for our state and for Virginia families,” said Robert Hollingsworth, Executive Director of AFSCME Council 20. “Passing this legislation means directly creating millions of good-paying jobs in Virginia, and finally building an economy that centers on working and middle class people. Our members are proud to support this historic legislation, and we urge Congress to get the job done.”

“From Appalachia to coastal communities watching the water rise, Virginians will benefit from and, in many cases, desperately need strong investments in climate solutions,” said Ann Creasy, Conservation Program Manager at the Norfolk, Sierra Club Virginia Chapter. “The resiliency and health of communities depends on investments to address climate; we need Congress to prioritize climate through the Build Back Better Agenda.”

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

  • Ease the burden on the middle class by lowering the costs of everyday essentials:
    • Save the average Virginia family with two children $13,286 a year on child care.
    • Cut prescription drug costs for Virginians 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 80,000 clean energy jobs in Virginia.
    • Create 14,702 home care jobs in Virginia.
  • Build an economy that rewards work, not wealth:
    • Extend the increased Earned Income Tax Credit for 417,000 low-wage workers in Virginia.
  • Tackle the climate crisis while bringing down utility costs for Virginians:

    • Invest $5.2 billion in energy efficiency in Virginia.
  • Make historic investment’s in Virginia’s infrastructure:
    • Deliver $7 billion for federal-aid highway apportioned programs and $537 million for bridge replacement and repairs to address the over 2,124 miles of highway and 577 bridges in poor condition in Virginia.
    • Improve healthy, sustainable transportation options, including by investing $1.2 billion in public transit and $106 million to expand Virginia’s network of EV charging stations. 
    • Bring high-speed internet access to the at least 473,000 Virginians who lack access to broadband.
    • Invest $738 million in Virginia to eliminate lead pipes and provide clean drinking water to Virginia who lack it.
  • Ensure families with children can make ends meet:
    • Provide a tax cut to the families of 1,586,000 Virginia kids who benefit from the expanded Child Tax Credit.
    • Establish 12 weeks of paid family leave per year, up from 0 weeks currently in Virginia.
  • Expand access to quality, affordable health care:
    • Expand Medicare to include dental, vision, and hearing coverage for the 1,169,000 Virginia seniors currently enrolled in Medicare.
  • Provide a pathway to citizenship for millions of immigrant families, including:
    • For the 275,000 undocumented immigrants living in Virginia.

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