Congresswoman Barbara Lee Releases Statement on Latest Meeting with President Biden
Washington, D.C. – Congresswoman Barbara Lee (CA-13), former Chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, released the following statement on the ongoing discussions with President Biden on the next steps for the Build Back Better Agenda:
“I’d like to thank President Biden and Vice President Harris for their leadership and for the invitation to meet in the White House yesterday. My progressive colleagues and I spoke with the President about the path forward. I emphasized to him how beneficial the provisions in the Build Back Better Act will be for women, communities of color, and in our fight against poverty. While the Bipartisan Infrastructure Framework will go a long way toward fixing our infrastructure and providing good paying jobs, it is also necessary that we make long overdue investments in communities of color and women.
“Several of the investments made in the Build Back Better Act—like to the caregiving economy, paid family leave, the child tax credit, workforce development, climate action, housing, and good paying union jobs—will build an equitable economy that works for everyone. I’ve consistently raised the importance of gender and racial equity in every one of the investments we make. Not only will these investments make us stronger at home, but they will also re-establish our leadership abroad and strengthen the global economy. That is why it is so important to pass both the Build Back Better Act and the infrastructure bill so all of our communities build back even stronger than before.
“The President has been a good faith partner in these negotiations and underscored how important it is for him to pass both bills. Our caucus has been fighting hard to deliver the Biden Agenda. I will continue working with my colleagues in the House, Senate, and White House to ensure both the Bipartisan Infrastructure Framework and the Build Back Better Act are signed into law. We look forward to continuing these conversations, delivering for the people, and ensuring no one is left behind.”