Congressman Cleaver’s Statement on House Passage of $3.5 Trillion Budget Resolution

(Washington, D.C.)– Today, U.S. Representative Emanuel Cleaver, II (D-MO) released the following statement after the House of Representatives passed the $3.5 trillion budget resolution, which allows for the budget reconciliation process to begin.

"Today, the House of Representatives took another important step toward enacting President Biden's economic agenda—where working class families come first, giant corporations and the wealthy pay their fair share, and our nation begins the critical transition toward a resilient 21^st century economy.

"Following the worst pandemic in a century, which shed light on many of the inequities that have persisted in the United States for far too long, the American people are clamoring for Congress and the Biden administration to make good on the promises to Build Back Better. In conjunction with the bipartisan infrastructure deal, the budget resolution will do just that. It will help to create millions of good-paying union jobs, provide paid family leave for working class families in Missouri, extend the expanded Child Tax Credit to support our children's future, strengthen our workforce by implementing universal pre-K and two years of free community college, combat the climate crisis by transitioning to renewable technologies, and invest heavily to create more affordable housing in communities throughout the country. All without raising taxes on Americans making less than $400,000.

"There are still many conversations and plenty of debates that will need to occur in the coming months as Congress formally draws up this historic piece of legislation, but I am confident that Democrats will meet this once-in-a-generation moment and the needs of the American people. I was proud to support moving forward with the reconciliation process, and I will continue fighting to ensure that the priorities of the Fifth Congressional District of Missouri are included in the final bill."

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Emanuel Cleaver, II is the U.S. Representative for Missouri's Fifth Congressional District, which includes Kansas City, Independence, Lee's Summit, Raytown, Grandview, Sugar Creek, Blue Springs, Grain Valley, Oak Grove, North Kansas City, Gladstone, Claycomo, and all of Ray, Lafayette, and Saline Counties. He is a member of the exclusive House Financial Services Committee; Chairman of the House Subcommittee on Housing, Community Development, and Insurance; member of the Select Committee on the Modernization of Congress; member of the Committee on Homeland Security; and a Senior Whip of the Democratic Caucus. For more information, please contact Matt Helfant at 202-590-0175 or matthew.helfant@mail.house.gov