Larson: This is a Tale of Two Tax Cuts

Press Release

Washington, D.C. - After the Ways and Means Committee advanced the first portion of the Build Back Better Act, Rep. John B. Larson (CT-01) released the following statement:

"Democrats have put forward the most consequential tax cuts for working families and the middle class since the New Deal and Social Security. Republicans on the committee, as they have done historically with Social Security and Medicare, called these tax benefits for working people radical, socialist, left-wing legislation.

"In stark contrast to the Democratic proposal, the Republican tax cuts of 2017 saw 83 percent of the cuts go to the nation's wealthiest 1 percent. They believe that the middle class and working poor should be grateful for the benevolence of what trickles down to them, while the wealthiest 1 percent buy stock options and assets and only further expand their wealth. The working poor and middle class buy food, pay utilities, educate their children, and pay for health care with these benefits, despite the Republican labeling.

"It's a tale of two tax cuts: one that that trusts working families with the resources they need to assist their families with the essentials of life - the other helping the rich get richer and expecting people will be grateful for what little that they'll get in trickle down."

The Ways and Means Committee advanced the following provisions of the Build Back Better Act:

Creates the first-ever national comprehensive paid family and medical leave program to all U.S. workers with up to 12 weeks of paid leave.
Expands traditional Medicare to include dental, vision, and hearing coverage.
Requires employers with five-plus employees that don't offer a retirement plan to automatically enroll employees in IRAs and 401(k)-type plans and enhances the existing Saver's Credit to make it refundable and deposited directly into a retirement account.
Makes investments in child care providers so that child care is more accessible and affordable.
Extends the Health Profession Opportunity Grant (HPOG) Program to provide additional grants for low-income workers to launch careers in health care and to address health care workforce shortages.
Invests in improving the quality of care and staffing at skilled nursing facilities with more robust oversight.
Ensures elders are able to age and live safely by addressing long-term care worker shortages, providing access to legal support, and funding outreach programs for vulnerable seniors.
Provides support and resources to those negatively impacted by international trade including job training.

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