A Note About the President’s Build Back Better Agenda

Dear Friends,

I wanted to reach out to share some updates about the President’s Build Back Better Agenda and last week’s vote on the infrastructure package.

From the beginning of this process, I have been clear that I would do everything possible to pass the President’s agenda and bring much-needed resources to the 5th District.

Right now, families across our district are struggling with the rising cost of childcare and the inability to get family leave to take care of their kids and deal with a medical emergency. The Build Back Better Act addresses it by creating a universal pre-k program, affordable childcare, and paid family and medical leave. In the Twin Cities, we have the worst housing shortage in the nation. The Build Back Better Act addresses it, by investing $150 billion in affordable housing. Minnesota is experiencing some of the fastest rising temperatures in the nation. The Build Back Better Act makes the boldest investment in history in the climate crisis — investing in zero waste initiatives and creating jobs in the process.

Throughout the summer and fall, I held multiple town halls and meetings with constituents, and your message was overwhelming: we need to pass the Build Back Better Act before the infrastructure package.

As a result, I, along with the Congressional Progressive Caucus, supported a vote on the Build Back Better Act before the House took up the infrastructure agreement. While a majority of the Democratic Caucus agreed with this strategy, a small faction of conservative representatives withheld support from the bulk of the President’s agenda. I knew that the longer we delay passage of the Build Back Better Act, the less likely it was to pass. And I could not in good conscience support the infrastructure bill without a vote on the President’s transformative agenda first. Our district needs investments in infrastructure, but we also desperately need childcare, paid leave, expanded health care coverage, climate action, housing affordability, universal pre-kindergarten, and a roadmap to citizenship. For that reason, I voted no when infrastructure came up in the House without a commitment on the President’s Build Back Better Act.

This fight is not over. I will continue to fight to pass the President’s entire agenda, and get Minnesota families the relief they need, and look forward to delivering the transformative change Minnesotans need.

In solidarity,

Ilhan