FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 29, 2021
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Congresswoman Nanette Diaz Barragán joined Congresswoman Debbie Dingell and Senator Ed Markey in introducing the THRIVE Act, comprehensive economic recovery legislation that would authorize at least $1 trillion per year until 2031 to support family-sustaining, union jobs for more than 15 million American workers.
The jobs, which range in industry from clean energy to care work to manufacturing, would help to drastically cut carbon pollution by 2030, while also advancing gender, environmental, Indigenous, economic, and racial justice, especially for Black and Indigenous individuals.
“The THRIVE Act would enforce strong environmental, labor and equity standards so we can build an economy that works for our communities, not at our expense,” Congresswoman Barragán said. “We have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to transform society by centering the recovery around equity, climate, justice, and jobs. Future generations are watching. We have to meet the moment.”
“We’re in a pivotal moment right now to switch gears from relief to recovery. This needs to be done through intentional, intersectional policies that make the economy work for everyone,” Congresswoman Dingell said. “By advancing good-paying union jobs, racial equity, and climate action, the THRIVE Act brings a transformative approach to rebuilding our economy. With the collaboration of colleagues, advocates, and activists, we can work together to ensure we’re recovering with a focus on justice and healing.”
“Our country is facing four overlapping crises – mounting economic inequity, the climate crisis, racial injustice, and the coronavirus pandemic – and the THRIVE Act will ensure we have an intersectional response that is proportionate to the scope of the problems we face,” Senator Markey said. “We need good-paying union jobs, we need justice for all, and we need to act on climate. Last night, we heard President Biden’s vision for how to recover from the crises we face. The THRIVE Act would bring the scale, scope, and standards that we need to make an equitable recovery happen and ensure that all people, everywhere, can truly thrive.”
In addition to Congresswoman Barragán, co-leads in support of Congresswoman Dingell (Mich.) and Senator Markey (Mass.) for the THRIVE Act are Senators Elizabeth Warren (Mass.), Chris Van Hollen (Md.), Richard Blumenthal (Conn.), Bernie Sanders (Vt.), Kirsten Gillibrand (N.Y.), Ron Wyden (Ore.) and Congressmembers Earl Blumenauer (Ore.), Jamaal Bowman (N.Y.), Yvette Clarke (N.Y.), Jason Crow (Colo.), Pramila Jayapal (Wash.), Ro Khanna (Calif.), and Ilhan Omar (Minn.)
The THRIVE Act would authorize investments of at least $1 trillion per year for FY 2022-2031. Additionally, the bill would create a THRIVE Board – appointed by the President – of representatives from impacted communities, unions, and Indigenous Nations to guide the $1 trillion per year in new investments for the following:
- Upgrade our infrastructure for clean water, affordable public transit, and a reliable electric grid (creating five million jobs);
- Expand access to wind and solar power, electric vehicles, and healthy buildings (creating four million jobs);
- Protect our rural and urban spaces, wetlands, prairies, forests and support family farmers who are embracing regenerative agriculture (creating four million jobs); and
- Invest in public institutions and care for children and the elderly — essential work that is underpaid and largely performed by women of color (creating two million jobs).
Additionally, the bill would require strong labor, equity, and climate standards to build a more just economy including: wage and benefit guarantees and access to unions, community benefit agreements and equitable hiring and contracting that favors women and Black, Indigenous, and people of color, and environmental justice and climate standards.
The text of the THRIVE Act can be found here.
A video statement made by Congresswoman Barragán for a press conference on the THRIVE Act can be found here.
This legislation is endorsed by the following organizations: Center for Popular Democracy, Climate Justice Alliance, Grassroots Global Justice Alliance, Greenpeace USA, Green New Deal Network, Indigenous Environmental Network, Indivisible, Movement for Black Lives, People’s Action, Right to the City Alliance, Service Employees International Union (SEIU), Sierra Club, Sunrise Movement, US Climate Action Network, the Working Families Party, Common Defense, Association of Flight Attendants-CWA, American Federation of Teachers, Physicians for Social Responsibility, Communications Workers of America, United Electrical, Radio and Machine Workers of America (UE), United We Dream, Bold Alliance, Public Citizen, GreenLatinos, Poder LatinX, 350.org, MADRE, League of Conservation Voters, Natural Resources Defense Council, Native Movement, Clean Water Action, Moms Clean Air Force, MoveOn, and many more.
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Nanette Diaz Barragán is proud to represent California’s 44th Congressional District, which includes the communities of Carson, Compton, Florence-Firestone, Lynwood, North Long Beach, Rancho Dominguez, San Pedro, South Gate, Walnut Park, Watts, Willowbrook and Wilmington. She serves as chairwoman of the House Homeland Security Committee’s Subcommittee on Border Security.