Investing in A New Vision for the Environment and Surface Transportation in America Act

Floor Speech

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Ms. WATERS. Mr. Speaker, I thank Chairman DeFazio for his tremendous leadership and work on this legislation.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 2, the Moving Forward Act, which includes $100 billion in critical funding for our Nation's affordable housing infrastructure to create or preserve approximately 1.8 million affordable homes. While we need stronger and better roads and bridges, they mean nothing for families who don't have a roof over their head or who are forced to live in substandard housing.

This country is in the midst of an affordable housing crisis. It is a crisis of tragic proportions that has resulted in over 550,000 people experiencing homelessness and nearly 38 million renter households paying unaffordable rent even before this crisis began.

The public health crisis that we are currently experiencing has exacerbated matters with millions of Americans across the country having lost their jobs and struggling to afford housing costs. Communities of color continue to suffer disproportionately, both from the virus and the resulting economic damage. The investments into affordable housing through this bill will not only increase and improve the supply of affordable housing, but it will also create jobs throughout the country and generate revenue for State and local governments which will go a long way to help our economy recover from the pandemic.

So I want to thank Speaker Pelosi and, of course, again, Chairman DeFazio for their work putting together this legislative package.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this important piece of legislation.

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Ms. WATERS. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 2 and this en bloc amendment.

I thank my colleague, Chairman Peter DeFazio, for his work on this bill and for including my amendment to assist airport concessionaires.

Mr. Speaker, my amendment requires airports that receive supplemental airport funding to provide financial relief to airport concessionaires experiencing economic hardship. This amendment is a critical down payment toward the long-term financial assistance needed by concessionaires that are a vital part of our Nation's air travel system.

Concessionaires are small businesses and often minority-owned businesses. They are completely dependent upon thriving airports and robust demand for air travel. As the coronavirus continues to wreak havoc on the aviation industry, concessionaires need targeted relief.

Mr. Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues to support this amendment.

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