Alex Padilla

I think Leader Schumer and others have encouraged us to consider balanced thinking.

This work is now being chilled, and the researchers are being silenced.

Focusing on cuts to benefits, cut--cuts to coverage and cuts to access. When I believe what we should be discussing is ways to preserve and build on Medicare's many successes.

The national child poverty rate hit a record low of 5.2% in 2021.

We have a moral responsibility to continue to serve Native American Tribes who were forcibly displaced from their homelands.

Is there something about the nature, the fundamental nature of the different types of water agencies that impacts for better or worse access to safe, clean drinking water by the different types of agencies, tribal versus other public…

Different than access and quality, affordability.

So yes or no, would there be value in establishing that?

Good. I do have questions about certification. That is an important piece here.

It only makes sense for the Federal Government to financially support the longer term viability of significant initial investments.

I think you have given some indicators to my following question, but I want to ask it for the record.

Thanks to the work of the bipartisan members of this Committee, Congress provided over $4 billion for tribal sanitation over the next 5 years via the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.

Will the projects that are now funded because of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, will they be successful without funding operations and maintenance?

This hearing will come to order.

We have a moral responsibility to continue to serve Native American Tribes who were forcibly displaced from their homelands.

It is about making sure an entire community doesn't have to worry about one lightning strike or one burst pipe or extreme weather.

This is about making sure that a parent in Indian Country can turn on the tap and not fear they will get their child sick.

Is there something about the nature, the fundamental nature of the different types of water agencies that impacts for better or worse access to safe, clean drinking water by the different types of agencies, tribal versus other public…

We will also offer questions for the record after the hearing and provide some time for you to respond.

Different than access and quality, affordability.

We have to be careful with where the barriers are. We want folks to enter into this career field.

So yes or no, would there be value in establishing that?

Good. I do have questions about certification. That is an important piece here.

It only makes sense for the Federal Government to financially support the longer term viability of significant initial investments.

I think you have given some indicators to my following question, but I want to ask it for the record.