Dte Winter Outages
Floor Speech
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Ms. TLAIB. Mr. Speaker, DTE Energy, an investor-owned utility monopoly in southeast Michigan, charges some of the highest rates in our Nation but provides some of the most unreliable service. They also carry out hundreds of thousands of cruel utility shutoffs per year.
Over 100,000 DTE customers in southeast Michigan were forced to go days without power and heat during extreme cold and hot weather. This is because, instead of investing in reliability, DTE invests in profits and pays their shareholders and executives first. DTE's own CEO makes $10 million a year while families in southeast Michigan are going without power, again, during some of the coldest days this past week.
Investor-owned utilities like DTE have failed to invest in the infrastructure upgrades to the grid that are necessary to prevent these outages. Instead, they are choosing to maximize profits for their shareholders while spending millions on campaign contributions to avoid real accountability in Lansing.
My residents are sick and tired of wealthy corporate executives lining their pockets while our neighbors are exploited and price gouged. That is why I am proud to have introduced a resolution with Congresswoman Cori Bush and Congressman Jamaal Bowman. It is a resolution recognizing the human right to utilities.
It is important that we understand that access to utilities is not a privilege. It is a fundamental human right. In the richest country on Earth, every single family should not go without electricity, heat, and water.
We need utilities that serve the people, not shareholders. We need to take the profit motive out of the services we all need to live and thrive. Yemen Strikes
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Ms. TLAIB. Mr. Speaker, I stand in solidarity with the billions of people all around the world who are demanding a cease-fire now.
The majority of Americans support de-escalation and a lasting cease- fire, yet the President has threatened to escalate this into a regional war instead of doing anything to stop Netanyahu's genocidal bombing campaign.
Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank are being murdered by American weapons funded by our tax dollars. Lebanese national civilians are being killed, and now the Yemeni people are under threat.
Prior to the Israeli Government's assault on Gaza, Yemen was facing the worst humanitarian crisis on Earth, with much of the population living on the brink of famine.
President Biden was legally required to seek authorization from Congress prior to launching these strikes. He did not do so and, as a result, has violated the United States Constitution. This is completely unacceptable.
Many of my colleagues have correctly called out the Biden administration for bypassing Congress. The American people do not want to be dragged into yet another endless war in the Middle East. Zeta Phi Beta Sorority Founders' Day
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Ms. TLAIB. Mr. Speaker, today I rise with immense pride and joy in recognizing and celebrating the Founders' Day of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated.
This marks a time of reflection, appreciation, and unity for a sisterhood committed to the service of others.
Zeta Phi Beta was founded on the principles of scholarship, service, sisterhood, and finer womanhood. This sisterhood has fostered academic excellence and empowerment in our communities. From educational initiatives to advocating for social justice, Zeta Phi Beta has been a force for good.
We continue to honor the vision of our founders: Arizona Cleaver Stemons, Pearl Anna Neal, Myrtle Tyler Faithful, and Viola Tyler Goings.
Happy Founders' Day to my sorors of Zeta Phi Beta. I am so proud to be a part of the sisterhood. To all of the January D9 family, happy Founders' Day. May their commitment to excellence and service continue to inspire us all.
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