Congresswoman Barbara Lee Releases Statement on Meeting with President Biden
Congresswoman Barbara Lee (CA-13), Chair Emeritus of the Progressive Caucus, released the following statement after meeting with President Biden and Progressive Caucus colleagues on the path forward for President Biden’s Build Back Better agenda:
“I’d like to thank President Biden for the invitation to the White House and for his continued commitment to building back better. Our conversation was productive. We had a good faith discussion about the urgent need to deliver for the American people on overdue investments. He understands, just as we do, that we cannot stop at roads and bridges—we must also invest in the care economy, child care and the child tax credit, health care, addressing the climate crisis, affordable housing, and education. The time to act is now.
“Let’s be clear: for months, progressives have been open, honest, and transparent with House leadership and the administration about our focus on passing both bills. We all proudly support the President’s entire Build Back Better package, which is why, from the inception of these negotiations, my colleagues and I advocated for the passage of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Framework alongside the reconciliation package. That has been our plan, it has been the Speaker’s plan, and it has been the President’s plan. We are simply looking to hold the line on the agreed upon path forward and deliver for our communities.
“This is the President’s agenda—a Democratic agenda that reclaimed the White House. The needs in our communities, especially for Black and Brown people, are too great to be put on hold. This is an opportunity for Democrats to be unified in our goal of realizing the vision and promise of this nation. As we communicated to the President—who agrees with us—we can settle for nothing less than making good on our commitment, invest in the needs of the people, and build back bolder. I’m hopeful and confident we will get this across the finish line and deliver for the people.”