Defazio Statement on House Passage of the Build Back Better Act

Statement

Congressman Peter DeFazio (OR-04) today voted in support of the Build Back Better Act, an economic stimulus and job creation package that is key to President Biden's Build Back Better economic agenda. The legislation will bring down costs for families, create jobs, fight the climate crisis, and help everyday Americans get ahead. The Build Back Better Act will help fight inflation and is fully paid for by making big corporations and the wealthy pay their fair share. It keeps President Biden's pledge not to raise taxes on people making under $400,000.

As Chair of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, DeFazio played a key role in the drafting and enactment of President Biden's Build Back Better economic agenda. He authored key provisions in the Build Back Better Act that combat the climate crisis and improve the resiliency of our transportation systems and infrastructure.

"Today is a good day for everyday Oregonians and Americans," DeFazio said. "For too long, the deck has been stacked against them. House Democrats have stood firm in our commitment to build back better and deal them back in.

"The Build Back Better Act will lower everyday costs and help all Americans get ahead by providing needed child care assistance, establishing universal paid family and medical leave, helping families buy and keep a home, slashing outrageous drug prices, reducing health care premiums for 9 million Americans, and much more. It will also make our tax system fairer by cracking down on wealthy tax cheats, raising taxes on the ultra-wealthy so that they finally pay their fair share, and cutting taxes for working Americans. And it will fight the climate crisis by supporting the transition to clean energy and electrification, bolstering resilience and natural solutions to climate change, and investing in carbon reduction.

"President Biden's Build Back Better economic agenda will strengthen the working class and maintain the momentum of our recovery from the pandemic. I urge the Senate to move swiftly to pass the Build Back Better Act so that President Biden can sign this bill into law."

Combined with the recently enacted Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act -- landmark bipartisan infrastructure legislation that Congressman DeFazio played a leading role in getting passed into law - the Build Back Better Act will drive the creation of good-paying jobs and grow the economy sustainably and equitably so that everyone gets ahead for decades to come. Together, these bills will add on average 1.5 million jobs per year for the next 10 years. Critically, the Build Back Better economic agenda does not increase inflation. In fact, Moody's Investors Service shows that it takes the edge off inflation by supporting long-term economic growth.

For a fact sheet on the provisions included in the Build Back Better Act, click here. For a breakdown of the provisions authored by DeFazio in the legislation, click here. The bill now goes to the Senate for consideration.

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