President Biden named several initiatives that could expand the social safety net and help reboot the American economy. In the midst of an ongoing pandemic, this is a crucial time for social spending, especially around caretaking, employment, and education. In addition to allocating funds to continue to fight the COVID-19 Pandemic as expected, President Biden specifically named the Paycheck Fairness Act, paid leave, raising the minimum wage to $15 an hour, extending the Child Tax Credit, ramping up healthcare for veterans, along with protecting workers’ right to organize. Notably, he also called for more educational funding through increasing Pell Grants and supporting HBCUs and community colleges. It is uncertain whether Biden will be able to marshal the bipartisan legislative support needed to pass these policies, but these are promising initiatives that could go a long way for helping Wisconsinites recover from an ongoing economic and health crisis.
From the College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences at the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay
