Dear John,
The passage of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) in 2022 marked a significant milestone in advancing climate action, boosting economic investment, and improving healthcare affordability.
Since becoming law, the IRA has brought substantial benefits to communities across the country. A total of $60 billion has been directed toward climate initiatives, addressing pollution and environmental hazards in areas that have historically borne the worst impacts of climate change. These investments go beyond just providing cleaner air and water: they also help correct long-standing environmental injustices faced by marginalized communities.
The IRA has also played a key role in expanding clean energy job opportunities. Billions of dollars have stimulated long-term sustainable industries such as solar, wind, and electric vehicle manufacturing, accelerating the shift toward renewable energy. Clean energy investments are both strengthening the economy and creating high-quality jobs for workers in emerging sectors.
Small businesses, including those owned by Black and Brown entrepreneurs, have also benefited from the IRA’s clean energy grants, loans, and tax incentives, ensuring that underrepresented business owners can actively participate in and profit from the expanding clean energy economy.
Tell Congress: Keep the Inflation Reduction Act in place to protect the environment, generate good jobs, and lower prescription drug costs!
Small businesses are not the only ones to benefit from the IRA’s targeted investments. Families also experience direct financial relief through home energy tax credits. These credits provide incentives for homeowners to install solar panels, upgrade insulation, and make energy-efficient improvements, all of which lower household energy costs while promoting sustainability.
The IRA is really a pretty amazing piece of legislation. Its impact extends beyond energy and jobs: it has also made healthcare more affordable. A long-overdue reform now allows Medicare to negotiate prescription drug prices, significantly reducing costs and ensuring that older Americans are no longer forced to choose between affording medication or basic necessities.
One of the IRA’s most immediate common-sense provisions is the $35 monthly insulin cap for Medicare recipients. This measure is especially critical for Black communities, where diabetes rates remain high. No one should ever have to ration their insulin due to financial hardship! The IRA represents real progress toward making lifesaving healthcare more accessible.
Now, as Republicans in Congress push through huge tax breaks for the richest Americans, they also plan to slash the IRA’s investments to pay for them. If these cuts go through, it will represent yet another massive wealth transfer from everyday Americans to the ultra-wealthy. Billionaires like Musk and Trump will reap the benefits, at the expense of working families.
For far too long, low-income communities have endured high energy costs, toxic pollution, and inadequate healthcare. The IRA is actively working to reverse these inequities by easing financial burdens, boosting economic opportunities, and investing in long-term climate solutions. Congress must not undo this progress.
Tell Congress: Protect and defend the Inflation Reduction Act!
Thank you for standing up for economic justice, public health, and a livable planet.
Robert Reich
Inequality Media Civic Action
