The Build Back Better Act Advances, Senate Must Act Now

Today, Oregon Food Bank celebrates the passing of the Build Back Better Act in the U.S. House of Representatives. A truly unprecedented opportunity to address the very real struggles of Americans across the country, putting in reach an immediate, positive impact on families with children struggling to make ends meet.

The Build Back Better Act will address many of the root causes of food insecurity through improvements in child nutrition, offering a pathway to universal school meals in Oregon, and providing critical food assistance for students in the summer months when student hunger spikes. It will extend the Child Tax Credit to include all kids in Oregon — delivering monthly support to families when we need it most.

It will also make significant steps toward affordable housing and equity with new initiatives for homebuyers and renters. Pre-K will finally be accessible to all, alongside more affordable childcare options. And higher education will be within reach for millions more families through tuition-free community college and funding for historically Black colleges and universities. These are but a few of the many measures within the Build Back Better Act that will have a meaningful impact in the lives of countless Oregonians.

“Not only do we stand to cut child poverty in half and significantly reduce hunger — we can advance economic justice, racial equity and opportunity for all in the process,” said Susannah Morgan, Oregon Food Bank CEO. “Throughout the pandemic, we’ve seen how effective these expanded programs have been in equitably addressing increased food insecurity. Now is not the time to take these critical supports away. The Senate must pass the Build Back Better Act to ensure America does not simply return to ‘normal’ but emerges even stronger from the pandemic.”

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