Washington, DC–Today, U.S. Representative Henry Cuellar (TX-28) highlighted a new White House fact sheet that outlines how the Democrats’ Build Back Better framework will meet the urgent needs, and bring jobs, to Texas families. The Build Back Better framework delivers transformative investments that will address these needs and allow Texas families to go back to work.

“For far too long, Texas families have been held back by soaring costs – from child care to health care to education to the climate crisis and more,” said Congressman Cuellar.  “To unleash the full potential of every worker and family in our state, Democrats are seizing this once-in-a-century moment to Build Back Better our economy.  Democrats’ Build Back Better framework–which we will soon enact into law–will deliver for Texas families, with millions of good-paying jobs, historic middle class tax cuts and lower costs, so parents can thrive and succeed. Because when children are taken care, parents can go back to work.”

Led by President Biden and Democrats in Congress, the Build Back Better framework will be transformative for nearly every Texas family: delivering historic investments and ensuring that all share in the benefits of a growing economy. As outlined in a newly released White House fact sheet, these needs include:

• Child care: the average annual cost for child care in Texas is $9,428.  The Build Back Better framework will expand access for 2,011,503 young Texans and ensure that no Texas family pays more than seven percent of their income on child care.

• Early education: only 24% percent of 3- and 4-year-olds in Texas have access to publicly funded pre-K, while the average cost of private pre-K in the state is $8,600.  The Build Back Better framework will expand access to free, high-quality pre-K to 588,286 young Texans – setting these children up for lifelong success and saving their parents thousands of dollars.

• Health care: by closing the Medicaid gap, expanding Medicare to include hearing care and extending relief for insurance purchased through the ACA, the Build Back Better framework will help 1,554,000 Texans gain coverage and 1,066,400 Texas families save hundreds on health costs each year – while also making home health care for elderly parents or loved ones with disabilities more affordable and accessible.

• Lower taxes: before Democrats secured the expanded Biden Child Tax Credit in the American Rescue Plan, 15% percent of Texas children lived in poverty.  The Build Back Better framework extends this life-changing tax cut and continues our historic progress toward reducing child poverty.

• Climate impacts: Texas has experienced 67 extreme weather events over the last decade, which has cost Texas families more than $200 billion.  By reducing carbon pollution, bolstering community resilience and strengthening the American clean energy economy, the Build Back Better framework will create good-paying union jobs, advance environmental justice and save Texas families the steep costs of recovery.

• The Build Back Better framework also makes generational investments in higher education, workforce training, affordable housing, nutrition assistance and more.

“I am proud to support the President’s Build Back Better framework, which will deliver transformational investments in our families, our workers and our climate while forging monumental progress For The People,” continued Congressman Cuellar. “Democrats’ visionary plan will rebalance our economy and help working families and communities of color succeed.”

The full White House fact sheet is available here.

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