Dear Representative:
On behalf of the AFL-CIO, I urge you to vote for the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), when it comes to the House floor this week. This legislation will make the U.S. more globally competitive and spur long-term growth, supporting jobs across a myriad of industries. But passing the IIJA would represent only a partial victory for the American people. We remain committed to the entirety of President Biden’s Build Back Better agenda, and urge you to quickly complete action on the budget reconciliation bill.
After decades of delay and decline, the infrastructure bill will provide critical funding to rebuild roads and bridges and modernize airports, rail and public transit systems. It will deliver clean drinking water and broadband to every family across the country. Finally, it will help us tackle the climate crisis by electrifying school buses, building electric vehicle charging stations and upgrading our electric power grid.
This bipartisan agreement, forged by President Biden, would be the single greatest infrastructure investment in our nation’s history with the potential to create good union jobs and middle class opportunity.
But for millions of Americans -- and especially women and others who have been held back by the lack of child care, paid leave, and equal educational opportunity -- this promise of good jobs can only be realized if the reconciliation bill is also passed. The budget package will also dramatically lower health care, housing, and dependent care costs. It will create thousands of clean energy jobs and provide for stronger labor standards and enforcement. Both bills need to pass to secure a better future for working families.
We urge you to vote in favor of the IIJA and then quickly complete negotiations and pass the budget reconciliation bill.
Sincerely,
William Samuel
Director, Government Affairs