Barbara Lee
In a Letter to Voters, Rep. Barbara Lee Reflects on Pres. Biden’s First 100 Days
I was particularly struck seeing the Bay Area represented on the dais by Vice President Harris and Speaker Pelosi. That was the first time in history two women have held that position. It was reflective of the price women have paid to get to this point.
Dear Friend,
Last week marked the first 100 days of Joe Biden’s presidency. On (April 28), President Biden presented his vision for an American future that builds back better after some of our most challenging years.
I sat in the chamber and listened to President Biden reflect on his first 100 days, confidently reporting that we have a stronger economy, more resilient pandemic response, and a unified mission of building back better and bolder.
I was particularly struck seeing the Bay Area represented on the dais by Vice President Harris and Speaker Pelosi. That was the first time in history two women have held that position. It was reflective of the price women have paid to get to this point. While this was a historic moment, as Vice President Harris pointed out, it is past time that it becomes “normal.”
During his speech, President Biden discussed his recently unveiled American Families Plan (AFP). The AFP is a bold step in advancing racial equity and closing the gap in education, childcare, wealth inequality, and more. By extending provisions under the American Rescue Plan (ARP), and through programs of its own, the AFP would lift more than 10 million people out of poverty.
I am excited to support this plan and similar efforts to improve equity in our school and childcare systems, and to combat inequality in the East Bay and across the country.
The AFP offers an extended tax cut for families with children and American workers. This includes the Child Tax Credit (CTC) and Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC). This will work to mitigate the growing wealth inequality that we see in America and invest in low- and middle-income families who help our economy thrive.
Additional provisions of the AFP include:
- Making child care affordable by ensuring that families will pay no more than 7% of their income on high-quality child care
- Creating a national comprehensive paid family and medical leave program through worker payments of up to $4,000 a month
- Expanding school meal programs and summer EBT funds
- Extending ACA premium tax credits that were expanded under the American Rescue Plan
- Providing up to $1,400 in additional assistance to low-income students by increasing the Pell Grant award
- Addressing teacher shortages and improving teacher preparation, including programs that strengthen pipelines for teachers of color
(Last) week, we heard about some of the progress we have made in the first 100 days of the Biden-Harris administration, but we cannot let our foot off the gas. Among many challenges ahead, we need we need to address disparities in our public health system, do more to help families that are struggling through this economic crisis, dismantle structural racism, implement police reform and immigration reform and address the climate crisis.
We still have much work to do, but I am committed to continue fighting for you.
As always, my office is here for you. If you need help with a federal issue, please call my Oakland office at (510) 764-0370. You can also connect with me via email, Facebook , Twitter , and Instagram .
Please continue to stay healthy and safe.
Best,
Barbara Lee
