This month is critical for infrastructure. Congress continues to debate the size and scope of the reconciliation bill and are aiming to pass the infrastructure package (reconciliation and the bipartisan bill) by the end of October. There is intense debate over the size of the reconciliation bill and it will likely be cut down significantly from $3.5 trillion to somewhere in the ballpark of $2 trillion. This means our priorities could be on the chopping block. We can’t let this happen.
We want to keep the pressure up on every member of Congress to pass both bills and make sure they include SMART priorities. The AFL-CIO is asking every state federation and central labor council to meet with every member of Congress over the next week to share this message—pass both bills with all of labor’s priorities.
SMART Army request: We are asking the SMART Army to take the same action as the AFL-CIO. Over the next week, meet with every member of Congress in your area. Ask them to pass both bills and include SMART priorities.
SMART’s four primary asks for infrastructure:
- Apply strong labor standards to any infrastructure project receiving federal support.
- Provide at least $100 billion for school construction.
- Include PRO Act provisions.
- Strengthen rail and transit safety provisions (such as those incorporated into the House’s INVEST Act).
SMART’s overall message:
- Our position has been and continues to be—we need both bills as quickly as possible!
- Both bills have important priorities for SMART and we want to see both passed and all of our priorities included.
- We want to continue to leave the negotiation of how this is sequenced and gets done to the party but want to make sure we let members of Congress know that we want both bills and that we want our priorities included.
- It is critical that all SMART locals stick to this message. We are stronger speaking with a unified message.
Links and attached Materials:
- Spreadsheet of targets: The spreadsheet of all members of Congress is here. You can use the spreadsheet to find where members stand on our priorities and if they serve on key committees.
- Key MOC messages document: This word document is a “cheat sheet” so you can tailor the message based on the position of the member and what they’ve done on our priorities to date.
- Toolkit: The toolkit provides an overview of infrastructure, a link to an action alert, text link, sample social media posts, sample letters to the editor and a script for member videos.
- Telephone TPs: This document provides an overview of our top asks and points members can use when calling and/or talking to members at town hall events.
- Infrastructure-rail safety talking points: This document provides talking points on rail safety.
- Town Hall spreadsheet: This link provides an up-to-date overview of town hall events by state and district.
- Breakdown of infrastructure package: This document outlines the provisions of the bipartisan infrastructure bill and reconciliation that benefit SMART members. It is important that we continue to urge Congress to pass both right away because both have critical provisions, and we want all of it!
- Biden accomplishments: This podcast breaks down Biden’s first 100 days in office and how it benefits labor. Page 3 and 24-30 in the latest issue of the SMART Journal outline a timeline of Biden’s accomplishments for labor.
