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The care economy is the foundation of our economy, supporting millions of seniors and people with disabilities. At the same time, care workers―who are predominantly women and people of color―are underpaid, often living below the poverty line. Sign-on in support of the Better Care Better Jobs Act and call for this critical legislation to be included in the budget reconciliation package.
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Friend,
Older adults and people with disabilities deserve high-quality care at home, in order to stay connected to their community and live independent lives with dignity.
That’s why, throughout this pandemic, I’ve worked with disability advocates and seniors in my community to ensure adequate emergency support, including keeping people in their homes.
Across the country, nearly a million people are on waitlists for such care. Rules vary by state, which leads to large gaps in coverage and caps on the number of individuals who can receive these critical services.
At the same time, care workers―who are predominantly women and people of color―are underpaid, often living below the poverty line.
To address these issues, Rep. Debbie Dingell and Sen. Bob Casey introduced the Better Care Better Jobs Act, which I’m proud to co-sponsor. The bill would expand access to Medicaid home- and community-based care services (HCBS), while also providing living wages and benefits for the essential care workers who provide these services.
Join me in supporting the Better Care Better Jobs Act and call for it to be included in the upcoming budget reconciliation package.
For my friend and colleague Rep. Debbie Dingell, this is personal.
Her husband John received care at home. And that experience showed her the significant fractures in long-term care, leading to low wages for workers, thousands on HCBS waitlists, and so many people not knowing how to get the care they desperately need.
Thank you for joining in the work of strengthening our systems of care. Together, we can ensure that our government works for ALL of us.
In solidarity,
Rashida
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