For Immediate Release 

December 15, 2021

Contact: bowman.press@mail.house.gov

NEWS: Rep. Bowman Infuriated by Senate Shelving Build Back Better Act

WASHINGTON D.C. - Today, Congressman Jamaal Bowman (NY-16) issued the following statement after hearing the Senate may shelve the Build Back Better Act. Twenty-six days have passed since the House passed the Build Back Better Act and did its part to deliver for children, families, workers, and our most vulnerable. The Senate must hold its end of the bargain up now. 

“It has now been 26 days since the House did its job to deliver on President Biden’s full agenda and passed the Build Back Better Act. Now, we are faced with a false choice between saving our democracy from the existential threat of fascism and meeting the immediate needs of people,” said Congressman Jamaal Bowman (NY-16). “If we fail to deliver on Build Back Better, this is the last child tax credit payment that my constituents will see, despite tremendous food insecurity and child poverty in our district. The people in my district are all too familiar with the status-quo and are counting on my colleagues in the Senate to address their needs by passing the Build Back Better Act. 

President Roosevelt’s New Deal was transformative, but only for some Americans. We cannot repeat the same mistake in this generation–especially when seniors, women and people of color bore the brunt of this pandemic. We have the opportunity to deliver transformative policy for the most impacted, disrupt the status-quo, and put people and families first. There is not a good enough reason for the Senate to withhold passing the Build Back Better Act in order to pass voting rights. Saving our democracy is urgent and existential; it doesn’t mean we have to pause on meeting the immediate needs of people. We can pass both bills and must do so immediately.” 

###