[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 168 (Thursday, November 14, 2024)]
[House]
[Pages H5980-H5981]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                             WATER IS LIFE

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from 
Michigan (Ms. Tlaib) for 5 minutes.
  Ms. TLAIB. Mr. Speaker, we all know that water is life. Safe, 
accessible, affordable drinking water is a human right.
  In 2021, I was proud to work with Representative Debbie Dingell and 
the Committee on Energy and Commerce in helping establish the low-
income household water assistance program, a $1.2 billion financial 
assistance program to help pay off bills and debts to keep people's 
water connected, especially during the pandemic.
  The program, of course, saved countless lives, but the money has run 
out. Millions of Americans all across our Nation are still struggling 
to keep up with their bills, and many are having their water shut off 
as we speak.
  We already have a permanent program right now for gas and electric 
utilities for our families called LIHEAP, but we have nothing for water 
utilities. The cost of water has gone up more than 40 percent 
nationwide in the last decade, and increased 285 percent in Detroit 
since 1980.

[[Page H5981]]

  With this bill, called the Half-Century Update for Water Access and 
Affordability Act, we are establishing a bill that would dedicate 
funding every year to keep people's water flowing. The program, Mr. 
Speaker, would include direct financial assistance, bill payments, and 
debt relief. What I also love is that it is going to help with water 
efficiency upgrades, like plumbing repairs that are much-needed in very 
old homes all across our Nation.
  We are going to set up a community advisory committee made up of 
residents, nonprofits, utilities, and other local stakeholders that 
will help advise the EPA on how to set up and implement these programs.
  Mr. Speaker, the act will also go to help fund local nonprofits to 
help with technical assistance to help many of our families. We are 
also going to collect the data that is necessary to improve this 
program every year to make the biggest impact.
  This bill would also ban the practice of water shutoffs as punishment 
for not being able to afford your bills. It is inhumane to have our 
families in the richest country in the world not have access to water.
  We always seem to have the money, Mr. Speaker, to send more bombs and 
weapons, but not support working families who can't live without water.


  Celebrating United Community Housing Coalition's 50 Years of Service

  Ms. TLAIB. Mr. Speaker, I celebrate United Community Housing 
Coalition's 50 years of service to our communities.
  It is an amazing organization that, in the past five decades, worked 
on lifesaving housing assistance for many thousands of our neighbors 
throughout Detroit and southeastern Michigan. The United Community 
Housing Coalition has been a critical organization, helping families 
retain their homes, helping folks become homeowners, and helping to 
protect neighborhoods from abandonment and blight.
  UCHC serves as a beacon of hope for many of our residents in building 
a sense of community and empowerment. Their efforts in one of the most 
difficult times during the recession helped many Detroiters understand 
their legal rights, avoid foreclosure, fight eviction, organize, and 
secure housing.
  I am proud of these 50 years of extraordinary service to our 
families. Please join me, Mr. Speaker, in recognizing UCHC's impact as 
we continue to strive toward a future where everyone has a safe and 
secure place to call home.


                 Blinken's 30-Day Humanitarian Deadline

  Ms. TLAIB. Mr. Speaker, let's talk about ``Biden's 30-day 
humanitarian deadline.''
  The Biden administration has continued to ignore reports from its own 
experts, international human rights organizations, and the United 
Nations that the Israeli Government is blocking humanitarian aid into 
Gaza in violation of U.S. and international law.
  ProPublica published a detailed account of how the U.S. State 
Department submitted report after report to Congress that contradicted 
the findings of the Department's own experts and those of other 
agencies.
  The Israeli Government is using starvation as a weapon of war. Look 
at this picture. It is evidence that blocking U.S. humanitarian aid is 
clearly happening, and it is a blatant violation of section 620(i) of 
the Foreign Assistance Act.
  In a letter to the Israeli Government on October 13, Secretary 
Blinken acknowledged that the Israeli Government is violating U.S. law 
by blocking aid and gave them 30 days to comply. The letter demanded 
that 350 trucks be allowed into Gaza per day. Guess what? According to 
Israel's own data and own government, only 57 trucks were allowed into 
Gaza per day in October. If that is even true, this is the lowest 
amount of aid into Gaza in a year.
  On November 1, top United Nations officials said the entire 
Palestinian population in northern Gaza is at imminent risk of dying 
from disease, famine, and violence.
  This week, Mr. Speaker, Secretary Blinken exposed his lie by 
announcing that there will be no change to any policy, despite 
admitting that the Israeli Government has still failed to comply with 
all of their demands.
  Secretary Blinken has continued to lie to Congress and should resign. 
U.S. law is very clear: No nation blocking U.S. humanitarian assistance 
can receive U.S. weapons. The Biden-Harris administration cannot pick 
and choose when they comply with our own laws.
  Children are forced to eat pet food and bug-infested flour. Look at 
this, and do not turn your back on again being complicit to this war 
crime.
  Blinken says there is no need to change our own policy. Shameful.

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