Main Street Alliance Applauds House Passage of Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act- Urges Congress to Take Up the Build Back Better Act Immediately

November 6, 2021

In response to the House passing the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and advancing the Build Back Better Act last night, Co-Executive Director of Main Street Alliance, Chanda Causer, had this to say:

“Main Street Alliance and our member businesses applaud the House for moving forward two historic pieces of legislation that will support entrepreneurs across the country. With the passage of the IIJA and continued legislative movement on Build Back Better, we are on the precipice of a more equitable economy.

In partnership, the Build Back Better Act and the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act will make critical investments we need to boost our economy and rebuild our communities. The President’s economic recovery package will invest in our nation’s future and build an economy that rewards work, not wealth, by lowering costs for working people, supporting small businesses, and creating millions of new good-paying jobs.

The Infrastructure Act’s critical investment in our roads, bridges, and broadband networks, particularly important for our rural small businesses, is needed to rebuild the economy. The Build Back Better Act is a huge step forward in investing in our care economy, lowering drug prices, taxing the rich and corporations, making healthcare and education more affordable, and creating jobs. The policies in both bills are not only popular with the public, but they will improve millions of lives, reshape the economy, and finally enable many more people to have a fair shot at prosperity, security, and mobility. 

The inclusion of paid family and medical leave is a win for small businesses and an opportunity to build back better with equity. Paid leave is one of the most widely supported policies in the initial Build Back Better plan and can unite the country and boost the economy. Creating a national paid leave program would be a historic achievement and a worthy legacy to build on for future generations.

With the taxes on the wealthy and corporations starting to pay their fair share, this and other investments will fully pay for both bills. The Build Back Better Act takes on the long-standing false narrative of trickle-down economics to prioritize investment in our main streets and middle class.

Now, we are urging the House and Senate to swiftly pass the Build Back Better bill so that President Biden can sign both of these transformative bills into law as soon as possible and deliver on the promises for millions of people and small businesses in America.”