UnidosUS President and CEO: New $1.75T Framework for “Build Back Better Act” Represents Real Progress for America’s Families

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New compromise will improve the lives of many Americans, including Latinos and other historically underserved communities

WASHINGTON, DC—In response to the White House’s unveiling of an updated framework for the Build Back Better Act, UnidosUS President and CEO Janet Murguía issued the following statement:

“The president’s compromise framework is real progress, and the $1.75 trillion framework will help families, including those in the Latino community, get back on their feet. It will provide quality, affordable health coverage to the uninsured, extend the Child Tax Credit (CTC) and summer nutrition programs and establish universal Pre-K. It will also expand access to affordable housing, child care, home care and the tools we need to tackle climate change.

“We welcome the extension of CTC expansions, including the restoration of benefit eligibility for immigrant children. This tax credit is a powerful anti-poverty tool central to the wellbeing of all Latino children who experience disproportionate rates of poverty. Students will also benefit from increased Pell grants and the extra support to stay in school and earn a college degree.

“We applaud the inclusion of a path to citizenship for the undocumented. A lasting recovery from the pandemic depends on the vital, ongoing contributions of immigrant workers and their families and our nation’s leaders must use every tool available to get this done.

“Latinos—like all Americans—stand to benefit from this ground-breaking compromise package. We recognize that this framework is not perfect, but we understand that difficult decisions had to be made to advance this once-in-a-generation investment. We are disappointed that paid leave was eliminated and that key programs such as the CTC will only receive short-term funding of one to three years.

“More work lies ahead to make these critical investments permanent and to ensure that the transformational nature of these policies become a lasting fixture of our society.

“But today, UnidosUS commends this historical progress. We will work hard to see this package reach the finish line and ensure that our families and communities benefit from the Build Back Better Act for generations to come,” Murguía concluded.

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