AFSCME’s Saunders: ‘The historic Inflation Reduction Act is more great news for working families’

WASHINGTON — AFSCME President Lee Saunders issued the following statement after House passage of the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022:

“The historic Inflation Reduction Act is more great news for working families.

“By allowing the federal government to negotiate Medicare drug prices and penalizing corporations for hiking up costs, lifesaving medication will no longer be a luxury but a guarantee. Seniors will no longer be forced to choose between paying for their medication or mortgage, and the extension of ACA subsidies will lower health care costs for 13 million people.

“By making historic investments in clean energy, we are creating a future where we aren’t just responding to climate disasters but preventing them. These investments and tax incentives will also create thousands of new good-paying union jobs, ensuring that working people will thrive in the green economy.

“And by requiring corporations to pay a minimum 15% income tax and making it harder for the wealthy to skirt their tax obligations, we are creating a fairer path forward where working people aren’t the only ones paying their fair share.

“We commend House legislators for working diligently to pass this vital legislation which sets our nation on a brighter path forward. This path is strengthened by steady, strong job growth, leading us to the lowest unemployment rate in 50 years.

“But make no mistake: We can easily be derailed if we don’t turn out to elect pro-worker lawmakers in this fall’s midterm elections. We know corporate-backed candidates want to roll back the progress of the past two years and further rig the system against workers. AFSCME members and all working people will not let that happen.”