Providing for Consideration of H.R. Build Back Better Act; and for Other Purposes

Floor Speech

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Mr. DeFAZIO. Madam Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 5376, the Build Back Better Act. By passing this landmark legislation, House Democrats are making lasting investments in the American people, our infrastructure, and are lowering taxes for working families across this country.

It fights inflation. It is fully paid for. We accomplished this by making sure big corporations and the wealthiest pay their fair share, all while creating hundreds of thousands of good-paying jobs that don't require a college degree. It is no wonder why this bill is popular with a strong majority of Americans and very unpopular with the Republican minority.

As chairman of the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, I am particularly proud that the Build Back Better Act will provide a vital down payment in the fight against climate change. The transportation sector is the largest source of carbon pollution. Important investments in my committee, and others, included in this bill to decarbonize transportation will address the climate crisis with the urgency it deserves, something I have been pushing for a long time.

For working families, the Build Back Better Act will provide universal pre-K, childcare, lower healthcare costs, and establish a permanent program of 4 weeks paid family medical leave. It makes historic investments in housing and includes provisions to ensure affordable pricing for certain prescription drugs. This legislation also includes investments in tax enforcement to catch the tax cheats, the wealthiest tax cheats in America. Again, the Republicans don't much like that part of the bill.

It should be clear: The Build Back Better Act will lower costs for families, put money back in the pockets of hardworking Americans, create hundreds of thousands of family-wage jobs, and good benefits.

By passing this bill, along with the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, we are truly catapulting Americans into the modern era, making the largest investments to combat climate change in American history.

Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this legislation.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Source