I want to start with Ms. Rice. Ms. Rice, the Center for Investigative Reporting report revealed that out of 31 million Home Mortgage Disclosure Act records, that modern-day redlining still exists in 61 metro areas in our country.

Working-class Latino and Black people are being pushed out of their own neighborhoods by wealthier White residents.

Our community can't get the investment they need.

When we talk about wealth in this country and opportunities to build wealth, we have to talk about housing.

Most of my constituents are renters, and the housing crisis they are facing now under COVID-19 isn't new.

The worst of it is no water for the flushing, it sure going to be great when all of us have safe drinking water.

We have gotten overwhelming support from organizations and others who are eager for us to have a conversation about reparations.

There is nothing in this bill that talks about payments of checks or money to anyone. This is a commission to find the facts and bring us to full healing.

I want to personally thank my colleague and fellow Houstonian, Sheila Jackson Lee, for bringing this bill forward and to working together with all of us to make sure that this can come to fruition.

I am a very proud--and I am going to repeat that--proud original cosponsor of H.R. 40, because it is important that our Nation heals by finding the facts, understanding the lingering effects of slavery in the United States, and finding…

I also applaud the Biden-Harris Administration for continuing to outline its vision for advancing racial equality for all Americans who just want to live and breathe without fear.