Covid-19 Relief

Floor Speech

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Ms. KAPTUR. Madam Speaker, I rise to introduce the bipartisan Restoring Communities Left Behind Act.

This legislation establishes a $5 billion neighborhood infrastructure stimulus program at the Department of Housing and Urban Development to help communities face down the dire COVID-19 economic crisis.

I am grateful for the cooperation and leadership of Michigan Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib for leading this bill with me, and also for Chairwoman Maxine Waters for encouraging our efforts.

In addition to COVID-19, Americans in rural and urban areas are still suffering from the effects of the 2008 Great Recession, decades of job washout, and redlining. Wall Street's malfeasance resulted in African Americans alone losing nearly half of their accumulated wealth since the founding of the Republic.

Nothing is more important for wealth creation than owning a home. This bill will provide a lifeline for families to restore financial security through homeownership.

The bill is a critical job-creation program. By investing in neighborhood infrastructure, we are investing in skills training and creating good paying jobs.

Congress must act now to provide stimulus for neighborhoods to recover so they emerge more resilient. I look forward to working to include this bill in a larger COVID relief and recovery package. I urge my colleagues to support this important housing recovery legislation.

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