This afternoon, the House of Representatives voted to advance the budget reconciliation package, the bipartisan infrastructure bill, and the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act. In response, New Jersey Citizen Action releases the following statement:

“We applaud Rep. Gottheimer and the other Democrats for backing the Budget Resolution today and supporting the interests of the American people. With their action, the Democratic party is on its way to delivering historic and urgent reforms that low- and moderate-income American families desperately need. Bridges, trains and roads mean little without meaningful human infrastructure. We need to make investments in both, as urgently and comprehensively as we can. Our gratitude goes out to President Biden, Speaker Nancy Pelosi and the nation’s Democratic members of Congress, in and outside of New Jersey, for delivering on the mandates that the public elected them to accomplish,”  said Dena Mottola Jaborska, Associate Director of New Jersey Citizen Action (NJCA).

“This paves the way for a once in a generation opportunity to expand health coverage, add vision, dental and hearing benefits to Medicare and lower prescription drug costs for all Americans. By allowing Medicare negotiations and responsibly taxing the ultra-rich and corporations, we can provide for these and other critical needs of America’s working families,” continued Maura Collinsgru, NJCA’s Health Care Program Director.

Yarrow Willman-Cole, NJCA’s Workplace Justice Program Director, added, “Unlike most advanced industrialized countries, our country’s care infrastructure is inequitable, underfunded and does not adequately meet the needs of everyday families. These failings undermine our financial security and block our recovery and long-term economic growth. It’s time to invest in families and finally end our infamous status as the only developed country without a national paid family leave program.”