Rep. Lee Joins Dingell, Markey in Reintroducing THRIVE Resolution to Build Back Economy Following Coronavirus Pandemic
Washington, D.C. – As the Biden administration begins to take immediate action to recover from the coronavirus pandemic and resulting economic depression, Representative Barbara Lee (CA-13) joined Representative Debbie Dingell (MI-12) and Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) today in reintroducing the Transform, Heal, and Renew by Investing in a Vibrant Economy (THRIVE) Agenda.
The resolution outlines a framework for a bold economic renewal plan that addresses the four current ongoing and intersecting crises: the public health disaster, racial injustice, the climate crisis, and economic inequity. The THRIVE agenda is built on eight pillars, which span from creating millions of good, safe jobs with access to unions to averting climate catastrophe, all while investing in Black, Brown, and Indigenous communities.
“The current COVID-19 public health and economic crisis once again illustrates the painful legacy of systemic racism, white supremacy, and inequality in our country,” said Congresswoman Lee. “We cannot dismantle 400 year old systems of oppression without a fight. I am proud to support the THRIVE resolution, which is an important step in addressing the issues of economic inequality, the impact of climate change on vulnerable communities, and supporting workers across the country.”
“A nation facing unprecedented crises must respond with intentional, intersectional policies that can combat climate change, end the COVID-19 pandemic, empower working families, and address racial and economic inequities,” said Congresswoman Dingell. “The THRIVE Agenda will guide us as we mobilize on a transformative mission to bring justice and healing to our communities. With a broad coalition of colleagues, advocates, and activists, we will save our environment and achieve the racial and economic equity that our nation demands.”
“The compounding crises that are affecting our country today—mounting economic inequity, the climate crisis, racial injustice, and the coronavirus pandemic—all require a bold, intersectional, and immediate response from the federal government. New leadership in the White House, driven by justice and science, is giving us the opportunity to recover from the past administration's negligence and truly allow our communities to thrive," said Senator Markey. “The THRIVE Agenda would not only correct the wrongs of the Trump administration, but serve as a guidebook for how we can rebuild our economy and our democracy to fix what is broken and make it work for every person in our country.”
An economic analysis from the University of Massachusetts Amherst finds that a bold economic renewal plan, as outlined in the THRIVE Agenda, would create nearly 16 million new jobs. These new jobs would offer safe workplaces, family-sustaining wages and benefits, and access to unions. These workers would be part of a national agenda to deploy clean and affordable public transit, replace lead pipes for clean water, expand wind and solar power, care for our children and the elderly, retrofit buildings to cut costs and pollution, expand manufacturing of clean technologies, restore our wetlands and forests, and grow food sustainably on family farms.
The THRIVE Agenda is supported by more than 200 national and local organizations, including the American Federation of Teachers, Center for American Progress, Church World Service, Climate Justice Alliance, Color of Change, Communications Workers of America, Green New Deal Network, Indigenous Environmental Network, League of Conservation Voters, Movement for Black Lives, People’s Action, Service Employees International Union, Sierra Club, Sunrise Movement, United We Dream.
A copy of the THRIVE Agenda resolution can be found HERE.
Original co-sponsors of the resolution in the Senate include Senators Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.), Bernard Sanders (I-Vt.), Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Jeffrey Merkley (D-Ore.), Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), and Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.).
Original co-sponsors of the House resolution include Representatives Ro Khanna (D-CA), Jamaal Bowman (D-NY), Rosa DeLauro (D-CT), Nanette Diaz Barragan (D-CA), Yvette Clarke (D-NY), Barbara Lee (D-CA), Earl Blumenauer (D-OR), Brendan Boyle (D-PA), Raul Grijalva (D-AZ), Donald McEachin (D-VA), and Pramila Jayapal (D-WA).
House Co-Sponsor Quotes
“Our country now faces its biggest tests in a generation,” said Chair Grijalva. “The THRIVE Agenda provides an all hands on deck approach to tackle the climate crisis, address systemic racial inequities, heal from the coronavirus pandemic and build a vibrant economy that works for all Americans. Our THRIVE roadmap brings people together with a common vision of economic renewal and puts the wellbeing of the American people at the center. It will create millions of good, sustainable jobs, advance racial equity, invest in underserved communities, strengthen our relationship with Native Sovereign Nations, promote environmental justice and ensure a just transition to put our nation back on track. I’m grateful for all the hard work and support from my co-lead, Rep. Debbie Dingell, and look forward to turning our shared vision for a thriving America into reality in this Congress.”
“A return to normal after defeating the coronavirus pandemic is not enough,” said Congresswoman DeLauro. “The multiple crises we have been facing for more than a year are deeply intertwined. We need a bold, holistic solution to revive and rebuild our economy in an equitable way that prioritizes people and our environment over corporate interests. I am proud to reintroduce this resolution with not only my Democratic colleagues, but also with the people on the ground working together to create a movement. The THRIVE Agenda is the renewal plan we need to heal and achieve racial, environmental, and economic justice.”
“This resolution provides a roadmap for how we will face the many crises facing our communities, from COVID-19 to racial injustice to the climate emergency,” said Congressman Blumenauer. “By following the bold principles laid out in THRIVE, we will safeguard our planet, provide good family-wage jobs, create a sustainable food system, and guarantee a higher quality of life for everyone. These aren’t just aspirations. We’re working to achieve this change through legislation this Congress.”
“As communities across the nation navigate intersecting crises threatening public health, equal justice under the law and the future of our planet, this much is clear — America cannot go back to normal because normal was never good enough,” said Congressman McEachin. “These compounding crises demand that our response fulfill the promise of America as a ‘garment of shared destiny.’ In that spirit, I am pleased to join my colleagues in introducing the THRIVE agenda, a historic call-to-action for Congress to turn this moment of national pain into the power needed to foster much-needed economic renewal while upholding principles of equal dignity, healing institutionalized harms affecting our communities and making bold investments in a vibrant, green future.”
"This is our New Deal moment to rebuild our country and change the world, and the THRIVE agenda can help us get there,” said Congressman Bowman. “It is an essential key to transform our country into a multiracial democracy that allows each and every American to reach their potential. Prioritizing racial, environmental, and economic justice is the only way we will build a nation that fulfills its promise to our families and our children. I'm excited and honored to be a part of this important resolution."
“From the deadly COVID-19 pandemic and the economic devastation it has caused, to racial injustice, climate catastrophes, and crumbling infrastructure, our country is facing numerous interconnected crises that are disproportionately impacting BIPOC communities,” said Congresswoman Jayapal. “The THRIVE Agenda’s eight bold pillars ensure that we fight inequality and respond at the scale of these crises while putting people back to work in dignified union jobs, building a fair economy, enabling healthy communities, stabilizing our climate, and working to achieve true racial, social, economic, gender, and environmental justice across America.”
“Every American, in every town across our country, should be able to find dignified work in their community,” said Congressman Khanna. “When we invest in entrepreneurs of color, in tribal innovators, in rural creators, in female leaders - we build a stronger, more sustainable economy for the 21st century. Honored to join Rep. Dingell in reintroducing the THRIVE resolution in the 117th Congress. I look forward to bringing more of our colleagues onboard as the urgency of the climate crisis only increases.”
“Individually, the crises of racial injustice, economic inequality, the COVID-19 pandemic, and climate change warrant serious legislative attention. Together, they demand it. The significant challenges America faces today will be the challenges we face tomorrow if we do not take immediate, comprehensive action to combat them,” said Congresswoman Clarke. “The THRIVE Agenda is immediate, comprehensive action and I am proud to co-lead this bill with Rep. Dingell. As your representatives, we are responsible for delivering a greener, safer, and more tolerant America for all Americans. We intend to keep that promise.”