The Georgia Budget and Policy Institute recently sent a letter to Georgia’s U.S. officials and senators urging them to support the provisions already in the American Families Plan and American Jobs Plan, as well as some additional provisions that will help would have a faster, fairer recovery. You can read this letter below.

Dear Georgia delegation,

I write on behalf of the Georgia Budget and Policy Institute (GBPI), a non-partisan, not-for-profit organization that promotes lasting solutions to expand the economic opportunity and prosperity of all Georgians, and I ask for your support for the provisions of the American Families Plan and American Job Plan. Taken together, these proposals will help address the inequalities faced by people of color and women, fuel recovery in Georgia, and then usher in a new era of prosperity for all. By endorsing the proposed provisions and looking for other ways to promote economic justice – such as raising the minimum wage – lawmakers can help build resilience and opportunities for Georgian families.

Recovery plans are a powerful step towards recovery

Any provision is a powerful step towards long-term recovery. In particular, GBPI hopes that our Delegation in Georgia will recognize the importance of closing the coverage gap, as approximately 270,000 Georgians earn too much to qualify for Medicaid and not enough to receive premium tax credits on healthcare.gov; Improving unemployment insurance (UI); Supporting college affordability and access by supporting increased Pell grants, supporting historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs), and other institutions that serve minorities; make the American Rescue Plan’s two-year premium tax credit increase permanent to make market coverage more affordable; Improving child nutrition through the permanent creation of a P-EBT program; Introduction of paid family and sick leave; Temporary Extension of Child Tax Credit (CTC), permanent extension of Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) to support the welfare of over 600,000 low-paid workers who are not raising children; and improving childcare infrastructure and subsidies

There are opportunities for improvement

While the plan is solid, there are ways that you and your co-workers can better get the most out of the suggestions. While Congress is deciding how best to improve the user interface, please take into account inequalities in attitudes that can prevent women and black workers – especially women of color – from getting healthy. Although many industries are hiring again, in April unemployment claims rose 11 percent for women, while they fell 2 percent for men. In the same month, black Georgians’ unemployment claims were 35 percent higher than those of all other applicants and 54 percent higher than those of white Georgians alone. Any policy that does not address these inequalities will not enable real and equitable long-term recovery.

Congress must also ensure that every state provides adequate services to help unemployed workers. Despite the above injustices, Georgia has joined several other states to end the distribution of HI government benefits – while workers continue to face low wages, health risks and difficulties with childcare. Our congressional delegation should also support the provisions for a universal preschool, childcare allowance and improved childcare infrastructure to alleviate this problem.

If you’re looking for ways to fill the coverage gap, consider creating more incentives for states like Georgia to fully expand Medicaid. Georgia is one of only 14 states that haven’t fully expanded Medicaid, although expansion would help any community improve access to rural health care, create jobs, and raise vital federal funds to help our state better fund other priorities . COVID-19 has underscored our state’s weak health infrastructure, but the leaders of Georgia continue to reject this clear opportunity to improve health outcomes.

There is also an opportunity to improve access to affordable housing in our country. Plans call for affordable housing to be built and restructured, but while the president’s budget includes an additional 200,000 vouchers for the next year (an increase in vouchers available nationwide by nearly 10 percent), the American Families & Jobs plans don’t see any before the multiannual , guaranteed funding to expand Housing Vouchers, which is needed to build a fairer economy and make progress in delivering Housing Vouchers to all beneficiaries. If we want to improve the supply of affordable housing, we also have to take care of tenants.

Finally, the legislature should try to make the expansion of the child tax credit permanent. This would cut child poverty in half and help improve children’s health and economic outcomes.

The legislature should realign the tax code

This bold economic transformation can only be realized if Congress takes steps to rebalance the federal tax law to increase revenue. The income options proposed in the American Families Plan would help businesses and the wealthy pay their fair share so that prosperity is within the reach of all.

Thank you for the work you are doing to support the Georgians. Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any questions about these priorities or any other provisions in the recovery plans.

With best regards,

  

National butler

President and CEO