On Wednesday, July 27th, 2022, Senators Chuck Schumer (D-NY) Joe Manchin (D-WV) announced that they had reached a deal in recent negotiations, presenting the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022. This legislation will “make a historic down payment on deficit reduction to fight inflation, invest in domestic energy production and manufacturing, and reduce carbon emissions by roughly 40 percent by 2030.” President Biden publicly offered his support, championing the bill as “the action the American people have been waiting for.” If passed, this historic legislation will reduce the burden of inflation on American families while reducing the deficit and tackling the climate crisis. The legislation allows Medicare companies to negotiate prescription drug prices. This will significantly reduce prescription drug costs by capping out-of-pocket costs for seniors and penalizing drugmakers for increasing prices faster than inflation rates. In addition, the extended and expanded Affordable Care Act, originally set to expire in 2022, will now extend through 2025. These changes will lower health insurance costs for 13 million Americans covered under the Affordable Care Act by an average of $800 a year. This deal also allocates $368 billion to energy security and climate change provisions. It will include new tax credits for Americans to purchase electric vehicles. These investments represent the first step that our nation must take in confronting climate change. The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) affirms that we are called to care for God’s creation. The 202nd General Assembly (1990) of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) “recognizes and accepts restoring creation as a central concern of the church, to be incorporated into its life and mission at every level.” This is only the first step that Congress must take to achieve a clean energy future. It is vital that this legislation is not the last of its kind. As Representative Ro Khanna (D-CA-17) stated, “would I like to have more climate spending? Yes. Would it be better to have 50% emissions reductions over 40%? Yes. In a democracy, you give and take, and you build to get something done. This is historic." As inflation rises and families struggle to make ends meet, it is vital that we do everything possible to reduce the cost burden on families. As a Matthew 25 church, we are called to act boldly and compassionately to eradicate systemic poverty. We must work to create a world in which all Americans have the resources they need to thrive. The Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 can be passed through budget reconciliation in the Senate, a process that allows the bill to bypass the filibuster and requires only a simple majority to pass. Contact your member of Congress today and urge them to act swiftly to pass this historic legislation. The time for action is now! | 
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