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Contact: Johanna Kichton, press@peoplesaction.org, 202.660.0605

WASHINGTON, D.C.—People’s Action today released the following statement by Director of Federal Affairs Megan Essaheb as the Senate debates the FY 2022 National Defense Authorization Act:

“It’s rich that some senators will soon greenlight a bill, written and lobbied for by defense contractors and corporations who profit off forever wars, while failing to fully fund critical housing, pre-K, and paid leave programs in President Biden’s Build Back Better Act. That’s on top of their blatant refusal to include live-saving and life-changing programs like dental and vision for older seniors, clean energy for utilities, and free community college.

“This NDAA gives $768 billion to military and national security programs for this year alone, while only $550 billion was allocated to combat climate change over time in the Build Back Better Act in the House–and that might be slashed further in the Senate. We’ll spend more in a single year on defense than we will over 10 years on climate action.

“We will face profound threats that will impact all of us, especially frontline communities hit first and worst by climate catastrophe and generations of disinvestment. We need to invest in sustainable housing, climate infrastructure, and quality health care now instead of bloating our military budget further to win wars that should have never been started.”

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People’s Action is a national network of 40 state and local grassroots, power-building organizations in 30 states, united in fighting for justice. We operate the largest progressive rural organizing project in the country. People’s Action and its member organizations coordinated one of the biggest distributed organizing programs in rural areas this past election season.

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Press Contact
Johanna Kichton

(202) 660-0605

About People’s Action Institute

Over five decades, People’s Action Institute and our affiliates have fought for reforms that recognize poor and working people’s dignity and make material and political improvements to millions of lives. Our victories include the Community Reinvestment Act, Superfund, the Affordable Care Act, the Dodd-Frank Financial Reform Act and the MAT Act.

We engage in issue campaigns, public education and training to advance a long-term agenda for racial, economic and gender justice. Our focus now is on deepening community organizing so we can build lasting power across the country. 

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