Watson Coleman: “I want to add my voice to this. This is not about theoretical discussions. I understand we have debates about oversight.…”

“I want to add my voice to this. This is not about theoretical discussions. I understand we have debates about oversight. I held a hearing on this in Minnesota a couple of months ago. By the way, winter is still there. And it is not just a matter of winter still being there. In Minnesota, we have some programs that allow heat not to be turned off and people have to pay that back through the course of the summer. I had a mom come forward who has three kids, who is working and going to school, who is talking about having to give up going to school so she can pay the heating bill. I had a senior woman come forward who is paying 50 percent of her income for heat and medicine. This is not a theoretical debate. This is about life and death. This is about suffering. Clearly, we have an opportunity and an obligation. I hope we do it and simply do the right thing. This is a rich country. Those who need to be heard, those who are raising their voices and asking us to do the right thing in a way that is being paid for, we can debate that all we want. But the bottom line is we have the opportunity to do what is right. I urge my colleagues to do the right thing and support the amendment. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Who yields time?”