MAJORITY WHIP CONGRESSMAN JIM CLYBURN (SC) STATEMENT ON HOUSE PASSAGE OF THE BUILD BACK BETTER ACT

MAJORITY WHIP CONGRESSMAN JIM CLYBURN (SC) STATEMENT ON HOUSE PASSAGE OF THE BUILD BACK BETTER ACT

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. House Majority Whip James E. Clyburn issued the following statement on the Build Back Better Act after today’s passage in the U.S. House of Representatives:

“The House has taken the first step in enacting the third leg of the three-legged stool of President Biden’s agenda. House passage of the Build Back Better Act balances the American Rescue Plan (ARP) and the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act in stabilizing our country. Together, these three historic pieces of legislation help struggling families recover from the pandemic, strengthen our crumbling infrastructure, and keep our economy running.

“One of the many provisions in the Build Back Better legislation that invests in American families is the extension of ARP’s Child Tax Credit (CTC) expansion that has lifted so many children out of poverty. The CTC provides $300 a month to families with children under 6 and $250 a month to families with children ages 6 to 17. In South Carolina, 963,000 children qualify for this tax credit expansion, with the average payment per household of $428. The families receiving the CTC payments can use those funds on food, school expenses, utilities, and child care, and if the Build Back Better Act is enacted, they will continue to receive this lifeline through 2022. Combined with the investments in Build Back Better that cap child care for most families at 7 percent of household income and provide universal pre-school for 3- and 4-year olds, this legislation is a game changer for families.

“I am especially pleased the Build Back Better Act includes $9 billion to support minority-serving higher education institutions, including seven HBCUs in my district. These funds will improve the research and development infrastructure at these institutions, as well as strengthen their academic, administrative, and fiscal capacity. These funds build upon the $2.6 billion HBCUs received from the American Rescue Plan to address the impacts of the pandemic on under-resourced institutions.

“Finally, I am proud that the Build Back Better Act closes the Medicaid coverage gap. There are 12 states, including South Carolina, that have not expanded Medicaid coverage under the Affordable Care Act (ACA), leaving 2.2 million low-income uninsured Americans without any assistance to obtain health care coverage. The Build Back Better legislation provides subsidies for these low-income residents falling into the coverage gap in the non-expansion states enabling them to purchase coverage on the ACA Marketplace at no cost. This will significantly improve the health and well-being of 100,000 low-income South Carolinians in the coverage gap, who were denied access to health care by their own state’s leadership.

“Experts have told us that the Build Back Better Act will positively impact our economy. This legislation will lower costs and fight inflation because it is fully paid for by making big corporations and the wealthiest pay their fair share.

“It is my hope that the Senate will follow our lead and support this opportunity to make America’s greatness more accessible and affordable for all.”