Congress: Act now to forge more resilient communities.

13 Texas mayors call on Congress to pass the Bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, Build Back Better reconciliation bill

As mayors of Texas’ largest cities, we have grappled with harsh realities in the wake of a global pandemic and February’s winter storms. Over the last 19 months, we have created vaccine outreach plans, emergency housing assistance programs, small business and worker relief funds, and digital inclusion initiatives that have helped lessen the burdens felt by families across our state.

The day-to-day business of our cities is rarely preceded by an R or a D, which is why a bipartisan coalition of Texas’ “big city” mayors have been working closely to collaborate on best practices to strategically employ federal aid and face unprecedented challenges as a team.

Cities and counties have initiated recovery plans to forge more sustainable, equitable and resilient communities, which is why Congress must take immediate action on the Build Back Better bill and Bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act to bolster our local efforts.

We are immensely grateful for the initial $350 billion investment in direct relief for state and local governments through the American Rescue Plan, which has afforded our communities the flexibility necessary to launch tailored recovery programs and stabilize the everyday services our local governments provide to our residents. We ask our federal leaders to continue empowering local governments by allocating these critical resources directly to our cities.

Congress now has an opportunity to provide a once-in-a-generation investment in our physical and human infrastructure to not only address the negative impacts of the pandemic, but to significantly strengthen the health and safety of Texas’ families, businesses, and cities.

The Bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act will enhance transit networks, greatly improve the safety of our major roadways, bridge the physical and digital divides between our communities, weatherize and modernize our nation’s electrical infrastructure, and make the largest investments yet in public transit, clean drinking water and clean energy.

The Build Back Better bill will extend the Child Tax Credit, which has significantly reduced the rate of childhood poverty, and make critical investments in affordable housing to ensure we keep roofs over our residents’ heads through our recovery efforts. The bill will also prioritize affordable, high-quality childcare and early childhood education, which will alleviate the barriers and burdens faced by far too many Texas families.

Perhaps most importantly, the proposed legislation will create and support millions of well-paying jobs to get families back on their feet—essential to rebuilding our nation’s workforce and restoring confidence in our economy.

Before us is an opportunity to be competitive through the next century by protecting the health and safety of our residents, fortifying our aging infrastructure, championing a growing economy that focuses on our workers, and better connecting our communities. For all the setbacks and obstacles that we have endured over the last year-and-a-half, we cannot afford to let partisan politics distract and deter us from a future that our people deserve.

It is our sincere hope that if a bipartisan coalition of Texas mayors can agree on these priorities, then there should be nothing stopping Congress from sending the Build Back Better bill and the Bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act to the President’s desk. Every resident of the State of Texas stands to benefit from these landmark investments.

As united mayors, we urge Congress to work toward the swift passage of the aforementioned legislation. We look forward to collaborating with our federal partners in the weeks and months ahead to realize a complete recovery for our families, economy, and country.