John, did you see this message from Jamaal?
Earlier this week, Jamaal shared his thoughts on the passing of the bipartisan infrastructure bill — and explained why he and many other progressive representatives did not vote in favor of the bill.
This is definitely a message you won't want to miss, John, so we thought we'd share it with you below. After you're done reading, can you please chip in $3 to continue supporting our movement and support Jamaal as he fights for us in Congress?
Thank you for fighting with us,
Team Bowman
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Jamaal Bowman
Date: Thu, Nov 8, 2021
Subject: Last week's infrastructure vote
To: [email protected]
Hey John, it's Jamaal.
Last week, Congress passed a $1.2 trillion bipartisan infrastructure bill — a bill that I and many other progressives fought to keep in its entirety, but ultimately couldn't vote for. Here's why:
The plan was always to pass Biden's FULL agenda: the bipartisan infrastructure and the Build Back Better Act, simultaneously. In tandem, the two bills were designed together to ensure that we build back better for all.
For example, 90% of jobs in physical infrastructure go to men — yet women account for four times the job loss to men during the pandemic. Families and children are in need of help with childcare, paid leave, housing, prescription drug costs, and so much more. The climate crisis continues to loom.
So after months of pushing and organizing our communities to believe in these policy promises, we held the line for the policies that women, seniors, care workers, children, and our planet not only need, but deserve.
I strongly believe that our country must do better in targeting resources to those that often get left behind. That is why my progressive colleagues and I were consistently clear for months that we intended to move both the Build Back Better Act and the physical infrastructure bill together and vote for them at the same time.
This was the agreement we understood, and this was the promise I shared. We were ready to deliver on this commitment this Friday — but this wasn't what was offered hours before the actual vote, with no ability to engage our communities.
We gave up our leverage to fight for the policies that would mean the most to most of the people in this country. The agreement was broken. And it's why I voted NO on a physical infrastructure bill that came without the Build Back Better Act.
Simply put, my vote on Friday was a vote to hold our government accountable and to push for us to pass the entire Biden agenda.
The bill is now headed to President Biden's desk, and the other half of our fight begins. We still need to ensure that the other half of the deal is kept. We need to continue to push to ensure that the president's entire agenda is secured.
Our country is experiencing multiple and layered crises on top of historical harm — and the only way to move forward is with transformative investment and courageous action to meet this moment. And we have the power to do it!
John, I will continue to do all that I can to make sure that our government delivers for the people and fights for our progressive values to bring solutions to the challenges we face. If you're with me, will you chip in $3 or whatever you can to our movement so we can keep pushing forward?
Peace and love,
Jamaal Bowman
