Andre Carson: “I thank the Congressional Black Caucus for giving us a leader, a hero, a visionary, a general, and a true public servant…”

“I thank the Congressional Black Caucus for giving us a leader, a hero, a visionary, a general, and a true public servant in Chairwoman Joyce Beatty, a fellow Midwesterner. Madam Speaker, when I see people like Congresswoman Beatty, it motivates me in the spirit of my grandmother, in the spirit of Fannie Lou Hamer, in the spirit of Harriet Tubman, in the spirit of Sojourner Truth. That fearlessness, that boldness, that commitment to liberation in freeing us from physical shackles along with mental shackles. Madam Speaker, I am proud to join my great colleagues in the Congressional Black Caucus tonight in support of the INVEST Act, a bill that we marked up over 18 hours in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. Madam Speaker, now this is one of the greenest bills to ever come to the floor. It provides strong support for sustainable infrastructure, green infrastructure, and green transit. The INVEST Act also addresses critical water projects for clean drinking water and wastewater projects, priorities that are long overdue after the racial injustices discovered in the Flint water crisis. {time} 2120 The INVEST Act includes strong job creation provisions for minority contractors and transportation professionals that will help spur Black generational success and wealth. We also know that access to reliable transportation is a civil rights priority. It is critical to economic and educational opportunities.…”