Utilities As A Human Right

Floor Speech

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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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