Dear Friends,
This weekend, I was proud to vote in favor of the bipartisan infrastructure package, which represents generational change and investment in America's future. I also look forward to finishing the job by passing President Biden's Build Back Better Act as well when Congress reconvenes before Thanksgiving. Together, these two bills will positively transform America into the 21st century.
Both of these two historic pieces of legislation will help middle-and-lower-income Americans' improve their everyday lives by creating jobs, lowering costs, and strengthening our economy in Georgia and around the nation.
The bipartisan infrastructure bill includes new programs such as a $6.4 billion carbon reduction program, a $250 million congestion relief program, and a $7.5 billion local and regional project assistance program. The new carbon reduction program alone will provide Georgia with over $210 million between FY22-27. For Georgia, it also means $1.36 billion in funding to improve or expand public transportation options, at least $100 million for broadband coverage, $135 million to build electric vehicle charging stations, $225 million for bridge replacement and repairs and more than $619 million for repairs and upgrades at airports.
President Biden will sign that into law this week.
When I return to Washington next week, we will move forward with passing The Build Back Better Act, which will deliver once-in-a-generation legislation to lower the everyday costs that burden working families -- from health care to childcare and more -- fully paid for by making big corporations and the wealthiest pay their fair share. No one making under $400,000 will pay a penny more in taxes for these measures.
Build Back Better will also lower healthcare costs by negotiating lower drug costs for seniors, halting Big Pharma's outrageous price hikes above inflation and expanding the Affordable Care Act so there are more options for Americans who don't have access to health insurance through their job or Medicare and Medicaid.
It will also lower childcare and family care costs by expanding the basic promise of free schooling in America for the first time in 100 years with universal pre-school for all 3- and 4-year-olds, extend the landmark Biden Child Tax Credit that provides families with up to $450 extra per month and expand access to affordable home care for older adults and those with disabilities.
And it makes the largest investments to combat the climate crisis in history by cutting pollution, reducing energy costs, creating good-paying jobs with a transformational investment to ensure America leads the clean-energy economy. In the days and months ahead, I will be holding virtual and hopefully in-person meetings to share what these historic investments mean for the state and Georgia's Fourth District specifically.
As always, I appreciate your time and feedback. Thank you for allowing me the opportunity to represent you in Congress. If you have an issue with a federal government agency, please don't hesitate to call my district office at 770-987-2291. Thank you!