Written by Shaina Hall
The Thrive Act was introduced to Congress in April 2021, and is a framework for a bold lucrative future and assembles an umbrella of key issues aiming for racial justice, climate justice, public health, and economic revival within our state and country. In comparison to President Biden’s one-time Build Back Better financial aid package, this legislation makes a consistent investment toward a greener, more sustainable future, over a span of five years.
The 8 Pillars of the THRIVE Act:
- Create millions of good, safe jobs with access to unions
- Invest in black, brown, and indigenous communities
- Combat environmental injustice and ensure healthy lives for all
- Ensure fairness for workers and communities affected by economic transitions
- Build the power of workers to fight inequality
- Strengthen and healing the nation-to-nation relationship with sovereign Native Nations
- Avert climate and environmental catastrophe
- Reinvest in public institutions that enable workers and communities to THRIVE.
This legislation invests in upgrades toward our infrastructure for clean water, affordable public transit, a reliable electric grid, the expansion of access to wind and solar power, electric vehicles, health-conscious buildings, protecting our public lands and waters, and so much more. It’s dedicated to a just transition to clean energy jobs from the fossil fuel industry.
Authored by Senator Markey and Representative Dingell, the THRIVE Act seeks to honor and respect Indigenous sovereignty. The bill requires the federal government obtain the free, prior, and informed consent of Tribes for all investments affecting them.
The goal of the THRIVE act is to invest in the people. It asks for the authorization of at least $1 trillion per year of continued funding between the fiscal years of 2022-2031. Per President Biden’s plan, the money represents five years of spending that will then be paid back in ten years. Data shows that this is the type of investment necessary to create more than 15 million jobs while simultaneously cutting climate pollution in half by 2030.
This legislation acknowledges those at the forefront of systemic racism, historic pollution, the climate crisis, and economic insecurity and recognizes them as leaders for the THRIVE board of representatives. This board would be responsible for guiding the annual $1 trillion investment package. It also prioritizes underserved communities. It requires that a minimum of 50% of the new investments directly benefit frontline communities most impacted by systemic and environmental racism.
The THRIVE Act symbolizes a bold and progressive future that Californians should strive toward. Complimentary to President Biden’s Build Back Better agenda, it is the first step of many for an environmentally just future.
