Sheila Jackson Lee: “First of all, let me thank both Mr. Horsford and Ms. Moore for one of the important colloquies that I have heard on the…”

“First of all, let me thank both Mr. Horsford and Ms. Moore for one of the important colloquies that I have heard on the floor of this body, and that is to be able to speak to people who are working hard every day, who are single parents, who work with their minds and their hands. I am glad to hear that we did not limit who would be able to receive these benefits, and we also crafted the vitality and the vigorous efforts of the Congressional Black Caucus. As I close, Mr. Speaker, I would like to just reiterate what Members, including the leadership of our chair, Chairwoman Joyce Beatty, Congresswoman Adams, Congresswoman Watson Coleman, Congressman Evans, obviously Mr. Horsford and Ms. Moore, what they all have said, if I might. And that is, let me reiterate that each piece of Build Back Better is a piece that is vital for the lives of Americans and African Americans. For example, $550 more in Pell grants for more than 5 million students. Then HBCUs, again, $10 billion. Seniors who have never had hearing aids, only 30 percent of seniors over the age of 70 who could benefit from hearing aids have ever had them. Medicare in this Build Back Better will include that extra benefit. Many of us have seen the caricatures of our seniors on television and elsewhere trying to hear. That is not anything that is funny, but it has been made light of. I want to give every senior an opportunity to hear. At the same time, I want to emphasize the importance of childcare.…”