[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 194 (Thursday, November 4, 2021)]
[House]
[Page H6184]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         BUILD BACK BETTER ACT

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from 
Texas (Ms. Escobar) for 5 minutes.
  Ms. ESCOBAR. Mr. Speaker, Congressional Democrats have been focused 
on working with President Biden to deliver long overdue investments for 
the American people and for our future.
  We started earlier this year with the American Jobs Act, which got 
critical resources, including vaccines, into our communities and put 
money in people's pockets. We helped struggling businesses and schools, 
and we did so much more.
  Now, we are on the cusp of passing two bills that will enormously 
improve the lives of all Americans, the Build Back Better Act and the 
bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. These two bills 
together will rebuild America's aging and failing infrastructure, 
create jobs, cut taxes and lower costs for families, protect and 
recognize the contributions of immigrants, tackle the climate crisis, 
and so much more.
  Mr. Speaker, my district of El Paso, Texas, has long suffered from 
chronic poverty due to lack of access to many resources and economic 
opportunities.
  On healthcare, my State of Texas has the highest rate of uninsured 
residents in the Nation. In my community of El Paso, a quarter of my 
residents have absolutely no health insurance whatsoever.
  On climate, El Paso has seen the second highest increase in average 
temperatures over the past 45 years with the number of 100-degree days 
predicted to double.
  On family care, nearly half of the people, 48 percent of the people, 
live in a childcare desert with no access to childcare whatsoever.
  On education, in my State of Texas your education and the amount of 
money invested in K-12 kids depends on your ZIP Code and where you 
live.
  The historic investments that we will be making with both of these 
bills will strengthen healthcare access to Texas families by expanding 
Medicare coverage for those who have been denied. They will protect our 
communities from the consequences of the climate crisis by helping us 
lower emissions, advancing a clean energy economy, and advancing 
environmental justice.
  These bills will support families with the child tax credit, which 
will benefit 173,000 children in El Paso alone, in addition to the 
investments in childcare, home healthcare, paid family and medical 
leave, workforce development, and universal pre-K, which is probably 
the best predictor for school success and for kids who end up going to 
college. My community needs that. My kids in El Paso deserve that.
  Americans everywhere need this health and support, and they need it 
now. These investments are fully paid for. They will not add to the 
deficit, and because these expenditures represent less than one percent 
of our GDP over the next decade, and because they are paid for in part 
by making corporations and the wealthiest Americans pay their fair 
share, the Build Back Better Act will not increase inflation.
  I am so proud to have played a role in crafting these bills. I am so 
proud to advance them and ensure that they uplift El Paso families, 
improve our economy, and help save our planet.

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