FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 19, 2021
November 19, 2021
Contact:
Tim Kauffman
202-639-6405/202-374-6491
[email protected]
Nation’s Largest Federal Employee Union Applauds House Passage of Build Back Better Act
Categories:
Congress, Benefits, White House
Legislation will provide all workers with paid family leave, lower prescription drug costs, and offer other vital assistance for American families, AFGE says
WASHINGTON – The American Federation of Government Employees, the largest union representing federal and D.C. government workers, applauds House passage of the Build Back Better Act.
“The Build Back Better Act, along with the already passed Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, delivers historic investments in our economy and our nation’s families that will be felt for generations,” AFGE National President Everett Kelley said.
The Build Back Better Act (HR 5376) for the first time guarantees all U.S. workers four weeks of paid family and medical leave to care for themselves or their family members.
“Ensuring all workers have at least four weeks of paid family leave to tend to a new child, a sick family member, or issues stemming from military deployments would be a monumental accomplishment that begins to put the U.S. on equal footing with most other countries,” Kelley said.
In addition to paid family leave, the Build Back Better Act extends the child tax credit, provides universal pre-K and other child care support, expands Medicare benefits to cover hearing loss and funds home and community-based services benefiting older Americans, lowers prescription drug costs, and extends other essential services that will help all Americans better care for themselves and their loved ones.
“The family and health care benefits paid for through the Build Back Better Act – along with the major investments in our nation’s transportation systems, broadband access, and health of our communities through the bipartisan infrastructure agreement – address needs that have persisted for years, if not decades,” Kelley said.
“I applaud President Biden and everyone in Congress who worked tirelessly to achieve passage of these historic bills. We urge the Senate to take up this measure immediately and send it to President Biden’s desk to be signed into law.”
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