The House passed the Build Back Better Act (BBB) last month. BBB is a federal funding plan to support rebuilding many national programs that have been long neglected. We are still waiting for the Senate to pass the bill. While Senate Majority Leader Schumer has set a Christmas deadline – and a vote next week is possible – the timeline is still unclear. Passing BBB is not a done deal. Our Senators need to keep hearing from us!
The $1.7 trillion of investments included in the Build Back Better Act are critically needed. BBB has $150 billion in funding for Home and Community Based Services (HCBS) and our workers. In addition to the HCBS investments, BBB:
- makes the Money Follows the Person program and HCBS Spousal Impoverishment protections permanent;
- includes funding for housing, education, clean energy and sustainability, immigration reform, and health coverage;
- includes efforts to transition to competitive integrated employment;
- closes the Medicaid coverage gap;
- expands Medicare to cover hearing benefits;
- reduces healthcare premiums;
- extends important tax credits;
- reduces drug prices;
- establishes a paid family and medical leave program; and
- invests in broadband Internet services nationwide.
You can see more about what’s included in the Build Back Better act in this framework and in the resources below. These are crucial services and programs that are needed now. We cannot keep waiting!
Take Action!
The Senate must keep BBB intact and pass it quickly. It is critical that our Senators keep hearing from us about how important this is. Call or email your state’s Senators about the things that matter most to you! Tell them their disabled constituents cannot keep waiting!
More information is below, including how to contact them and a sample script.
[Read more…]