MADISON, Wis. – Today Family Friendly Wisconsin and For Our Future Wisconsin delivered sandwiches to Senator Ron Johnson’s office in Madison, urging him to support members of the “sandwich generation” by passing the final version of President Joe Biden’s Build Back Better Act.
The sandwich generation includes parents who have children under 18-years-old and who also provide unpaid care to another adult. Just under 600,000 Wisconsinites belong to this generation, and uniquely struggle with costs of care.
“The sandwich generation is the backbone of our society, and especially our care society,” said Brita Olsen, state director of Family Friendly Wisconsin. “The pandemic has placed an additional stress on these individuals, and we have a once in a lifetime opportunity to empower them through proposals in the Build Back Better agenda.”
“We have a once in a generation opportunity to help thousands of parents across Wisconsin who have multiple caregiving responsibilities, yet are not supported respectfully,” said Peter Drummond, state director of For Our Future Wisconsin. “Senator Ron Johnson needs to prioritize these individuals by passing much needed care proposals in the Build Back Better agenda.”
Family Friendly Wisconsin and For Our Future Wisconsin also included a letter to Sen. Ron Johnson as part of the sandwich delivery.
The full text of the letter is below:
Friday, October 29, 2021
Dear Senator Ron Johnson,
As organizations who represent working families and people across Wisconsin, we write urging you to support the final version of President Biden’s Build Back Better Act. Specifically, we believe it is necessary to uplift and empower members of the “sandwich generation,” which includes parents who have children under 18-years-old and who also provide unpaid care to another adult.
Across the Badger State, just under 600,000 Wisconsinites belong to this generation, a majority of which are women, not to mention women who either work part- or full-time jobs. These individuals are the backbone of our society, and specifically, our care society; yet, they are not supported adequately.
Yesterday, President Biden and Congressional leadership reached an agreement on the final Build Back Better Act, which will be the most transformative investment in children and caregiving in generations. You have a once in a lifetime opportunity to empower Wisconsinites who belong to the sandwich generation by supporting the passage of President Biden’s Build Back Better Act.
Specifically, the framework will:
-
Provide universal and free preschool for all 3- and 4-year-olds, the largest expansion of universal and free education since states and communities across the country established public high school 100 years ago.
-
Make the largest investment in child care in the nation’s history, saving most working American families more than half of their spending on child care
-
Deliver affordable, high-quality care for older Americans and people with disabilities in their homes, while supporting the workers who provide this care. Provide more than 35 million households up to $3,600 (or $300 per month) in tax cuts per child by extending the American Rescue Plan’s expanded Child Tax Credit
We urge you to support the final version of the Build Back Better Act to provide members of the sandwich generation with equitable access to the resources they need to support themselves and their families. Families and workers cannot wait for the relief that these investments would provide.
Sincerely,
Family Friendly Wisconsin
For Our Future Wisconsin
