Statement: ProsperUS Responds to President Biden’s Joint Address; Plans for Federal Investments, Tax Increases for Massive Corporations Are Strong Foundation for Congress to Build On

Washington, DC – Today, Claire Guzdar, campaign manager and spokesperson for ProsperUS—a coalition of more than 75 major progressive labor, grassroots, movement, faith-based, and policy organizations at the state, local, and national levels—released the following statement in response to President Biden’s joint address to Congress and his plans to investment in infrastructure and the care economy.

“President Biden’s first 100 days in office have made it crystal clear that federal investments are critical to ending the COVID recession, avoiding another devastatingly slow recovery, and building an economy that works for all families, not just the wealthy and well-connected. Helping the families, workers, and communities that make up the economy recover from the COVID pandemic and recession is an important step, but we need a lot more: decades of disinvestment precede our current economic crisis and we can’t return to the ‘normal’ of January 2020. 

“We were encouraged to hear President Biden call for Congress to enact new investments in jobs, infrastructure, families, tackling the climate crisis, and more. These investments are desperately needed to put money in people’s pockets, strengthen the overall economy, and give people the economic and other security they need. They will also help us begin to correct for decades of underinvestment that created rampant and growing inequality and marginalized Black and brown people, immigrants, women, and other marginalized groups to all of our detriment.

“To be very clear: Congress should consider President Biden’s proposal a strong floor to build on, not a ceiling to negotiate down from. They must put workers and families ahead of the massive corporations and special interest groups that will be fighting tooth-and-nail to protect their profits and power. We cannot afford partial measures when the moment demands systemic change; families, workers, and communities face massive inequality, climate change, race and gender injustice, and other daunting challenges. There is absolutely no reason for Congress to even consider anything short of the robust investments our economy needs to truly, equitably recover and get on track to make all our lives better. 

“Congress must move quickly to build on the proposals laid out last night, including by increasing overall investments in infrastructure and care, making temporary programs permanent, and adding additional investments in housing, climate, and other important policy areas."

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