Press Releases

October 29, 2021 (Washington, D.C.) – Rep. Don Beyer (D-VA), who serves as Chair of Congress’ Joint Economic Committee, issued the following statement on President Biden’s framework for the Build Back Better Act:

“The climate provisions of the Build Back Better Act alone make it one of the most important pieces of legislation Congress will consider in our time.

“That the President has been able to protect these investments in clean energy and other climate provisions in the face of razor thin majorities representing a geographically challenging coalition is a testament to his negotiating skill and leadership ability. This is action on the scale needed protect our country and the world, while creating good paying green jobs and boosting our economy.

“Importantly, the Child Tax Credit, which has long been proven to be our country’s most effective tool for combatting poverty, will be extended- with full refundability made permanent. This will help more than 35 million families across the country and almost 120,000 children in my district alone. The child care, health care, and housing provisions are also historic, and each will make vast improvements in the lives of many millions of Americans. They will also grow our economy by helping create the conditions for growth driven by increased labor force participation.

“Together with the infrastructure investments contained in the Infrastructure Investments and Jobs Act, these bills fulfill many of President Biden’s core promises, and represent enormous progress towards a more equitable society. That progress will be paid for largely by new revenue from the wealthy and major corporations, and I am proud to have helped craft some of those tax provisions.

“The bill is not perfect, and even now we continue working to negotiate the return of key provisions, particularly paid leave and drug pricing, into the final package. But as they are currently written both bills together represent a mighty leap forward for this country, and I eagerly look forward to voting for all of President Biden’s Build Back Better agenda as soon as possible.”

Last week Rep. Beyer led an effort to demonstrate wide support for including robust paid leave in the Build Back Better Act from 105 House Democrats representing a broad ideological swathe of the Caucus, and he continues to work with his colleagues to seek enactment of a paid leave provision.

Beyer also serves on the House Committee on Ways and Means, which drafted much of the Build Back Better Act, including numerous provisions Beyer authored or coauthored.  He is the sponsor, with Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), of the Millionaires Surtax Act, and with Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) and Angus King (I-ME), of the Real Corporate Profits Tax Act.