[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 152 (Wednesday, September 21, 2022)]
[House]
[Page H8020]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       UTILITIES AS A HUMAN RIGHT

  (Ms. TLAIB asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend her remarks.)
  Ms. TLAIB. Madam Speaker, I rise in support of the Resolution 
Recognizing the Human Rights to Utilities.
  I read an article about a couple in their seventies in Detroit who 
had to melt snow in a bucket in front of their home so they can flush 
their toilet. That is when I knew when I came to the United States 
Congress, I had to introduce water as a human rights act.
  Millions of our neighbors across our country right now struggle with 
utility insecurity, fear of shutoffs, and are subject to inhumane 
living conditions.
  I proudly stand with Representatives Bush and Bowman and other 
colleagues in the House in changing the conversation around what we all 
deserve.
  The resolution ensures that everyone has access to water, sanitation, 
electricity, heating and cooling, public transit, and broadband 
communications all as a basic human right.
  It is past time that we take the profit motive out of providing the 
basics of a good life for many of our neighbors who continue again to 
struggle. I appreciate everyone that is working on this issue and the 
advocates out there that know that this is important to our country.

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