Two Senate Democrats are fighting aggressively to keep home-and-community-based services from being cut from the Biden administration’s $3.5 trillion reconciliation plan.
On Thursday, Sen. Bob Casey (D-PA) implored lawmakers during a virtual press conference to include the Better Care Better Jobs Act in the final bill. The legislation Casey introduced in June would allow more seniors to receive care in their homes by increasing HCBS funding and increasing wages for home care workers.
“Through this policy, we can literally say we’re not just putting our money where our mouth is or where our rhetoric is, but we’re going to invest in these workers because they are so essential to the lives of our families,” Casey said.
The hefty price tag on Biden’s massive Build Back Better plan, which addresses everything from climate change to Medicare enhancement, has created sticker shock among Republicans and moderate Democrats. Earlier this week, Roll Call reported House Democrats have cut the amount Biden wants for HCBS by more than half, from $400 billion to $190 billion. There are also reports the president is thinking of trimming the program as well.
But Better Care Better Jobs Act co-sponsor Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) said the social benefits included in the bill are vitally important to the nation’s economy and chided Republican lawmakers for minimizing them.
“The Republicans look at infrastructure as water, sewer, highways, bridges,” Brown said. “We’re all for that, but they don’t think about the human side. I want infrastructure to provide opportunities for people, workers and caregivers.”
A number of caregivers joined Casey and Brown on the press webinar, voicing their frustration over low pay and a lack of benefits. Ohio home healthcare worker Amina Nash said she works every day and can barely support herself and her nine children on her low wages.. She said she also feared what might happen if she became sick.
“I need insurance benefits, so I can stay safe and make sure my clients are safe too,” Nash said.
