“Build Back Better is Good for West Virginia” say Residents Bike Touring Charleston to Highlight Benefits December 13-14

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: December 13, 2021

 

Contact:

Lindsey Jacobs, Mountain State Justice: Lindsey@msjlaw.org, 304-380-6078

Jessie Ice, West Virginians for Affordable Healthcare, jessica@wvahc.org, 304-322-0074

Holly Bradley, CCAN Action Fund, Holly@chesapeakeclimate.org, 304-992-9231

 

 

With the US Senate on the verge of passing the Build Back Better Act, West Virginians are sharing how the landmark legislation would improve their lives. 

 

See pictures from the events here.

 

Watch the live stream of each event here. 

 

CHARLESTON, WV — West Virginians are bicycling around Charleston to spread the word that the Build Back Better Act is good for the state.  “BBB helps local governments modernize public buildings, making them more efficient, more productive, and healthier,” said Charleston City Councilmember Emmett Pepper, who is participating in the bike ride. “Because Charleston has already begun implementing our energy savings law, we are well-positioned to benefit from this historic opportunity to diversify Charleston’s economy and broaden the economic base. Hopefully the Senate will quickly approve BBB.”

 

The first stop on the bike tour is Solar Green WV, a locally owned solar installation company at 11:30 a.m. on Monday, December 13. “Each day we have many opportunities to improve our situation. Talk, encourage, and lead by example. Any support the government contributes brings us a step closer to a brighter future.” said Larry Kopelman, founder and owner of Solar Green WV.  “Now is the time for a cleaner, more reliable electric grid. This new grid will bring thousands of union manufacturing jobs to WV just as soon as Congress passes the Build Back Better Act” Said Alex Gallo, the WV New Jobs Coalition Coordinator. 

 

The second stop on the bike tour will be the YWCA Mel Wolf Child Development Center to hear stories about the need to extend the Child Tax Credit by passing the Build Back Better Act at 3:00 p.m. on December 13. “My children and I use the Child Tax Credit every month, unless Congress passes the Build Back Better Act those checks will run out in January,” said Holly Bradly, resident of Pocahontas County.  “As an organization serving low-wealth West Virginians, many of whom are raising children on limited incomes, we know that the Child Tax Credit is an absolute game changer for our clients. We’ll keep fighting alongside them to ensure it’s here to stay,” said Sarah Brown, Managing Attorney at Mountain State Justice. 

 

The final stop on the tour is scheduled for 2 p.m. on Tuesday, December 14. The bicyclists continue to the Family Care Health Center to hear stories of West Virginians who will get better, more affordable healthcare under the Build Back Better Act. 

 

“The high cost of prescription drugs causes real financial pain to West Virgninians like me,” said Morgantown senior Jeffrey Gordon. “Thank you so much, Senator Joe Manchin, for helping to pass a Build Back Better law that will curb excessive drug price increases and allow Medicare to negotiate with the drug companies.” 

 

Jessica Ice, Executive Director, West Virginians for Affordable Health Care added “Build Back Better is a truly historic set of reforms to our health care system.  Build Back Better will lower prescription drug prices, reduce health insurance premiums, and deliver much-needed assistance to West Virginians who want to care for elder and disabled family members at home rather than put them in institutions. Build Back Better offers an opportunity that may not recur for many years. The fate of this help to West Virginia families is in the hands of Senator Manchin. We hope he will vote for Build Back Better in December and not leave us out in the cold in the new year.”

 

The many people and places on this bike tour tell one story, the Build Back Better Act is good for West Virginia, and Congress should pass this life saving legislation in 2021.