Ben Ray Luján

I urge my colleagues to support these amendments.

Just to follow up on the Vice Chair's comments, I very much appreciate that line of questioning.

The Navajo-Gallup Water Supply Project Amendments of 2023 are vital to ensuring that Congress uphold its promise to the Navajo Nation, the City of Gallup and the Jicarilla Apache Nation in New Mexico.

Social Security is an incredibly effective anti-poverty program.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. This is the benefit of being new here. I should have followed the wisdom of my more senior colleagues and included my opening statement with my introduction of the president.

Without Social Security 38 percent of seniors would live in poverty.

I also was proud to work with colleagues and secure congressionally directed spending in Fiscal Year 2022 for the City of Gallup to drill a new well.

We need to get water to everybody's home on Navajo.

With longer life expectancies, older Hispanics benefit greatly from Social Security.

Without Social Security 38 percent of seniors would live in poverty.

Groundwater levels for the City of Gallup have dropped approximately 200 feet over the past 10 years.

Social Security helps 50 million American seniors stay out of poverty.

Social Security lifts over 1 million children out of poverty each year.

Social Security is the primary life and disability insurance for almost all American children.

It means a lot that you are here, Mr. President. I think the power of your testimony and stories that have been shared already, I think what is best is just to let that sink in, to understand where so many across the Country can turn on a…

Social Security keeps 22 million Americans out of poverty.

With longer life expectancies, older Hispanics benefit greatly from Social Security.

I certainly agree with the assessment from Senator Van Hollen that all of us with our observation with the State of Union, that the largest applause line, or one of them came bipartisanly Democrats and Republicans, not just clapping, but…

We must work together to address the challenges facing our tribal communities.

I urge my colleagues to support these amendments.

I also was proud to work with colleagues and secure congressionally directed spending in Fiscal Year 2022 for the City of Gallup to drill a new well.

Social Security is the primary life and disability insurance for almost all American children.

Thank you also again to Senator Lujan and Senator Heinrich for this critical legislation, which will ensure that thousands of Navajo people have a safe, reliable drinking water supply.

Social Security is an incredibly effective anti-poverty program.

Social Security keeps 22 million Americans out of poverty.