Ben Ray Luján

As President Biden has said, America is facing a national emergency that requires an aggressive response from Congress.

I come from a state with large Native American and Hispanic communities.

I was proud to introduce the New Mexico Navajo Water Settlement Technical Corrections Act to authorize the Navajo Gallup Water Supply project.

Thank you for holding this hearing. And I want to also recognize Chair Nadler for the work they are doing.

We still have communities in the United States of America that don't have safe drinking water. That is totally unacceptable.

We have a responsibility to address the water needs of our Indigenous communities.

That is unacceptable.

One thing I would also say is there is still a big need in New Mexico.

I am very concerned that there are still delays that were created from the BIA in the previous Administration.

I think it is important.

My family raised me to understand that our communities are stronger when workers are protected and empowered.

I look forward to having a conversation about the importance of unions to our democracy, our republic, and to working Americans.

These issues matter to my constituents in New Mexico, and like many other places, we are already living through the impacts of changing climate.

I understand there are two of us now in the United States Senate that attended Head Start, myself and United States Senator Raphael Warnock as well.

I look forward to working with you and learning from you.

the Indian Health Service has recently identified a $2.56 billion backlog in projects that would provide tribal communities with access to potable water and wastewater.

It is an honor to be with both of you and to be a part of this hearing.

Our Native communities deserve the same opportunities as all Americans.

It is truly an honor to be here with you.

I do look forward to working with you and the rest of my colleagues to not only defeat this pandemic, but expand access to early childhood education, strengthen public education and apprenticeship programs, and make post-secondary…

I am hoping that there will be a commitment from the Department of Education... that we strive to make sure that whoever is at the bottom of that list, that we work to get them higher up.

You understand how this crisis has exacerbated longstanding inequities in our education system, and you have made it a mission to close those equity gaps.

Let's just be honest. If you want to sell people these short-term plans, let's be honest with the American people as to what they are buying so that way people are not left without.

People need to stop lying to innocent folks that are out there and convincing them that these plans are going to cover their cancer, their diabetes, or if they get in an accident.

Chairwoman Fletcher, thank you so very much for this important hearing and for the recognition.