Saunders: President’s economic agenda will strengthen communities, reverse years of underinvestment

AFSCME urges Congress to come together and support the president’s economic agenda, including passing the president’s budget, the American Families Plan and the American Jobs Plan

WASHINGTON — AFSCME President Lee Saunders issued the following statement praising President Biden’s FY 2022 budget proposal and urging Congress to invest in public services and strengthen American communities:

“The president’s budget outlines a bold and sweeping plan to strengthen our communities and put working people first. It turns the page on years of austerity that have gutted public services, deepened inequality and hurt working families.

“Now is the time for Congress to act boldly and make significant investments in vital services, including health care, job training and public education. We must also invest in critical infrastructure like child care and repair our roads and bridges to create good union jobs and more equitable, sustainable communities. Instead of right-wing politicians taking away relief from Americans that the American Rescue Plan provides, we need bipartisan support so that the wealthy and corporations pay their fair share.

“The health and economic devastation of the pandemic are stark reminders that we cannot repeat the mistakes of the past. We cannot underfund public services and underinvest in the dedicated professionals who provide them. It is not enough to build back; we must build back better. We urge Congress to move quickly and work together to support the president’s transformational economic agenda by passing the president’s budget, the American Jobs Plan and the American Families Plan.”