House Passes Landmark Build Back Better Act to Cut Costs for Families, Boost Economy 

Washington, D.C. – Today, the U.S. House of Representatives passed H.R. 5376, the Build Back Better Act, historic legislation that builds on the success of the American Rescue Plan by delivering once-in-a-generation action to lower the everyday costs that burden working families in the 36^th District – from health care to child care to housing. Congressman Raul Ruiz, M.D. (CA-36) voted to pass the legislation, which includes his provision to invest $100 million for the Bureau of Reclamation that can be used at the Salton Sea. The bill now awaits consideration in the Senate.

"The Build Back Better Act is a rocket booster for our local economy and middle-class families in our communities," said Dr. Ruiz. "I voted to pass this much-needed legislation to put money in the pockets of hardworking families and to cut everyday costs in child care, health care, and housing. I am also thrilled that the Build Back Better Act makes $100 million available to address the public health crisis at the Salton Sea. I look forward to getting this bill passed in the Senate and to the President's desk to help families, workers, and seniors succeed and to help our nation Build Back Better than ever before."

BACKGROUND

H.R. 5376, the Build Back Better Act:

• Slashes Child Care Costs: The bill invests $390 billion in child care and universal preschool to ensure that families do not pay more than seven percent of their income on child care and to expand access to preschool for three- and four-year-olds.

• Establishes Universal Paid Leave: The bill establishes a universal and permanent paid family and medical leave program, providing four weeks of paid parental leave.

• Instates Tax Cuts for Middle-Families and Workers: Extends the Biden Child Tax Credit to families across the country – including 90,000 families in the 36^th District – and extends the expansion of the Earned Income Tax Credit to workers without qualifying children.

• Lowers Education Costs: Lowers the cost of higher education to students by increasing the maximum Pell Grant by $550 and expanding eligibility for financial aid programs.

• Expands Health Care Access: Expands Medicare coverage for hearing services and reduces premiums for individuals with health care coverage purchased through ACA Marketplaces, like Covered California.

• Reduces Prescription Drug Prices: Finally allows Medicare to negotiate lower drug costs for seniors, caps the cost of insulin to $35 a month, and caps annual out-of-pocket costs for prescription drug costs for seniors.

• Makes Housing More Affordable: Makes a $161 billion investment in rehabilitating and constructing affordable housing units; increases the number of housing Choice Vouchers; and invests more than $3 billion for the Community Development Block Grant to improve housing infrastructure in rural communities.
  
• Supports Veterans' Health Care: Includes $268 million to increase health professional opportunities at VA facilities and $150 million to modernize VA Service Records.

The Build Back Better Act also invests $100 million in the Bureau of Reclamation that can be used to address the environmental and public health crisis at the Salton Sea. This funding is based on Ruiz's legislation, H.R. 3877, the Salton Sea Projects Improvements Act.

Additionally, the Build Back Better Act includes Ruiz's priority to extend 100% FMAP for Medicaid services provided at Urban Indian health programs for four years. Ruiz's legislation, H.R. 1373, the Urban Indian Health Parity Act, would permanently extend this provision.

H.R. 5376 is fully paid for by ensuring big corporations, millionaires, and billionaires pay their fair share. The bill establishes a 15 percent minimum tax on all U.S. corporations earning more than $1 billion a year in profits. The bill also applies a new surtax on the income of multi-millionaires and billionaires. Taxpayers making less than $400,000 a year will not see their taxes go up by one penny.

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