Senator Murray Statement on House Passage of Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill

ICYMI: Senator Murray on Senate passage of bipartisan infrastructure bill – MORE HERE

ICYMI: Senator Murray on Build Back Better framework – MORE HERE 

ICYMI: Senator Murray highlights how Build Back Better framework will help Washington state families – MORE HERE 

(Washington, D.C.) – Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) issued the following statement on House passage of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and the rule to advance the Build Back Better Act. Senate Democrats passed the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act in August and are currently negotiating passage of the Build Back Better Act.

“The bipartisan infrastructure bill will mean jobs, internet access for families who need it, and a whole lot more. It will put people to work in every part of our state and deliver a generational investment in public transit, broadband, our roads, bridges, ports, energy grid, and so much more—it’s a really big deal and it’s good news for Washington state.

“But I’ve said for quite some time now: we need both bills. We’ve got to rebuild and repair our roads and bridges—yes—but that newly paved road won’t do much good for a mom who can’t afford or find child care for her kids while she’s at work.

“This is a positive step forward and I am fighting to include paid leave and action on immigration as we work hard to finalize the Build Back Better budget in the Senate. At the end of the day, we are going to pass two important bills that will rebuild our infrastructure, invest in affordable housing, create jobs, and put money back into people’s pockets—we are lowering child care costs, prescription drug costs, home care costs, and so much more.”

As Chair of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, Senator Murray is leading the Democratic Caucus in shepherding through key priorities in the Build Back Better framework. A former preschool teacher, Murray has led the fight for affordable child care and pre-K since she first was elected to the Senate, and the Build Back Better child care and universal pre-K policies were modeled off of her Child Care for Working Families Act. Senator Murray has also led negotiations focused on lowering health care and education costs, strengthening public health infrastructure, expanding home- and community-based services, and been a vocal advocate for bold climate action in the legislation. Murray was also one of the most vocal advocates in the Senate pushing for the inclusion of paid leave, which was successfully included in the House version of the Build Back Better Act.