Torres: President Biden Passes 100 Day Mark, Congressional Address with Flying Colors

Statement

Congresswoman Norma J. Torres (CA-35) released a statement today responding to President Joseph R. Biden's first address to a joint session of Congress.

"President Biden showed the American people in his first 100 days that we can expect real results from his administration, and he showed us with his speech tonight that we can expect those results to continue," Rep. Norma J. Torres said. "The American Families plan is the perfect complement to the American Jobs Plan -- they will both help get our workers back on the job, expand opportunity for all Americas, and help work families thrive and not just survive."

Congresswoman Torres met with President Biden last week to discuss infrastructure investments and job creation. She published an op-ed today in The Hill about how transportation investments impact economic opportunity in communities across the country -- something the Biden Administration is paying close attention to as they plan transportation investments going forward.

"President Biden's policies are proof that our society is changing, and that this Administration is in lockstep with the American people," Torres continued. "It is no longer acceptable to call childcare a luxury -- it's a necessity that every working family deserves. It's no longer adequate to talk about transportation investments and the jobs those projects create without also acknowledging the economic disparities between communities that receive these investments and those that don't. And we can no longer pretend that addressing symptoms does anything to alleviate our immigration problems while the root causes driving people here continue to fester far beyond our borders.

"I look forward to working with the Biden Administration on these issues, and on many more as President Biden and his Administration chart our course to calmer waters," Torres added. "This presidency is not about rebuilding what we had before the pandemic -- it's about building something better, and I'm proud to support them."

In keeping with customary practice, Rep. Torres was joined by her invited guest, Mike Walker of the Hod Carriers and Laborers Local 783, part of Laborers' International Union of North America (LIUNA). Walker is a proud affiliate of Local 783, a 1500-member strong union responsible for a number of infrastructure projects in San Bernardino, Inyo, and Mono counties. While COVID-19 safety protocols mean this year's in-person attendance was limited, Torres remains focused on the need for major investments in the infrastructure and workforce of the Inland Empire, a reality that is underscored by the perspective of a local member of the building trades.

"I am honored to accept Congresswoman Norma Torres' invitation to be her virtual guest for President Joe Biden's Joint Address to Congress representing my labor brothers and sisters of Laborers Local 783," Mike Walker said. "In the Inland Empire, we see how the American Jobs Plan invests in our streets, highways, schools, and hospitals. And with these investments come good-paying jobs that pay the bills and boost our economy. With the support of unions like my own, our workforce is ready to deliver the economic recovery our region deserves. I'm eager to hear more about President Biden's plans to help us achieve that goal."

President Biden's speech coincided with the 100th day of his presidency, a key benchmark historically used to gauge the success of a new administration. Notable highlights for the new Administration include:

More than 220 million vaccines administered -- more than double the original goal of 100 million doses in the first 100 days;
The American Rescue Plan, which included funding for a national vaccine rollout, funding to re-open schools safely, and more than 160 million relief checks of up to $1,400 per person;
Expanding the conversation on immigration reform to include the push factors in Central America that drive so many people to come here;
Rejoining the Paris Climate Accords and, for the first time ever, hosting a global climate summit for world leaders to make commitments to reduce emissions;
Becoming the first president in U.S. history to create more than 1 million jobs in his first 100 days, and much more.
Biden's speech also came on the same day that he announced the American Families Plan -- an ambitious investment in our children and our families. The plan includes:

Education: At least four years of free education (two years of pre-K and two years of community college) as well as investments to make college more affordable for low- and middle-income students, including students at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Tribal Colleges and Universities (TCUs), and institutions such as Hispanic-serving institutions, Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-serving institutions, and other minority-serving institutions (MSIs).
Support for Children & Families: Direct support to families to ensure that low- and middle-income families spend no more than seven percent of their income on child care, and that the child care they access is of high-quality. It will also provide direct support to workers and families by creating a national comprehensive paid family and medical leave program that will bring the American system in line with competitor nations that offer paid leave programs. The system will also allow people to manage their health and the health of their families. And, it will provide critical nutrition assistance to families who need it most and expand access to healthy meals to our nation's students -- dramatically reducing childhood hunger.
Tax Cuts: Extend key tax cuts in the American Rescue Plan that benefit lower- and middle-income workers and families, including the Child Tax Credit, the Earned Income Tax Credit, and the Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit. In addition to making it easier for families to make ends meet, tax credits for working families have been shown to boost child academic and economic performance over time. The American Families Plan will also extend the expanded health insurance tax credits in the American Rescue Plan. These credits are providing premium relief that is lowering health insurance costs by an average of $50 per person per month for nine million people, and will enable four million uninsured people to gain coverage.

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