Gender Justice Group Says Passage of Build Back Better Act Will Benefit Millions of Women & Families, While Continuing the Fight for Paid Leave

WASHINGTON - Statement from Shaunna Thomas, executive director of UltraViolet, a national gender justice advocacy group, on the passage of the Build Back Better Act:

"For months, advocates, policy experts, and Democrats in Congress have worked tirelessly behind the scenes to ensure that critical investments made the final cut in the historic Build Back Better Act.

"The bill includes $400 billion for childcare and preschool, expanded child tax credits for 35 million households, $555 billion in funding for climate and energy, $100 billion toward immigration reform, $150 billion for affordable housing and $35 billion for medicare. Because of this work, we have a strong framework proposal that makes a life-changing down payment for women, families, climate, and healthcare.

"Despite these wins, however, the exclusion of a paid leave policy is inexcusable. The president promised to provide universal paid leave on the campaign trail. Women voted in droves in support of that policy. This absence hurts Black women in particular, who disproportionately work jobs that do not provide paid leave. As we continue to weather a pandemic that has ravaged our communities and forced millions of women out of work, the lack of paid leave feels particularly acute. No one deserves to lose their job for having children or getting sick.

"We remain in awe of movement leaders, advocates, and activists who have been working for years to pass paid leave. We will continue to fight with them for this transformational, overwhelmingly popular, and necessary program.

"We look forward to the passage and signing of the Build Back Better Act and Bipartisan infrastructure deal while continuing to fight for our priorities until the ink is dry."