Nydia M. Velazquez: “before the Republican Party began rewriting history, it was widely thought that the people had entrusted the Federal…”

“before the Republican Party began rewriting history, it was widely thought that the people had entrusted the Federal Government with a number of basic responsibilities. First among them was the protection of its citizens and residents. The Framers of the Constitution listed the promotion of the general welfare as a fundamental duty of the Federal Government. I am proud to be a member of the party that bore that responsibility in the 40 years that it controlled this House. It introduced landmark legislation to promote the common good, such as the Clean Water Act, the Clean Air Act, the Safe Drinking Water Act, and the Lead Abatement Act. I am frankly amazed that laws such as these are now singled out as evidence of a runaway government. Am I to understand that the American people are outraged that their children now drink cleaner water and breathe fresher air? Are my colleagues who support this measure being flooded by constituent mail because their kids no longer eat lead-based paint chips? I urge my colleagues to uphold our constitutional duty to uphold the general welfare.”