FOR AMERICA, BY AMERICA

In early 2021, BGA began laying the foundation for a multi-pronged campaign to pass a recovery bill centered on workers and the environment—including paid phones, hill meetings, staff-level interactions, and public facing communications. In addition, BGA hired new staff for its legislative team to build up our presence on Capitol Hill.

In April, BGA released polling showing broad public support for the Build Back Better agenda in five key states (Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and Wisconsin)—across the political spectrum—including for investments repairing and modernizing America’s aging physical infrastructure and rebuilding and retooling American manufacturing to build more products and technology here in the United States.

In June, BGA launched “For America, By America”—a campaign urging Congress to ignite a new era of investments needed to Build Back Better, including critical investments to create good-paying manufacturing jobs.

Throughout the summer and autumn, the campaign used a variety of tools to reach working people and activate them in the fight to build back better, including: releasing polling data; events with community, environmental, labor, and elected leaders in the states; online, television, radio, and print advertising; and more. Highlights included events featuring U.S. Sens. Michael Bennet (D-CO), Bob Casey (D-PA), and John Hickenlooper (D-CO); U.S. Reps. Sean Casten (D-IL), Kathy Castor (D-FL), Debbie Dingell (D-MI), Angie Craig (D-MN), Steven Horsford (D-NV), Marcy Kaptur (D-OH), Ron Kind (D-WI), Gwen Moore (D-MN), Joe Neguse (D-CO), and Dean Phillips (D-MN); Gov. Jared Polis (D-CO); and allies from the labor, environmental, environmental justice communities, and local leaders in states across the country.

In October, BGA announced a nearly $500,000 ad campaign in five key states—Arizona, Colorado, Montana, Virginia, and West Virginia—highlighting the opportunity to build back better for all. This effort included a television ad featuring voters in West Virginia calling on Congress to act now.

The fight to pass the Build Back Better Act will continue in 2022 and BGA and its partners will be making sure that the final bill truly delivers for workers and the environment.