Gwen Moore: “I thank the gentleman so very, very much for that question. It really has been a joy working with him on the Ways and…”

“I thank the gentleman so very, very much for that question. It really has been a joy working with him on the Ways and Means Committee. It has been an education, and it has also been an opportunity to do those things that he has indicated that are close to my heart, and that is to create some equities for women and children. I want to just thank Representative Sheila Jackson Lee for anchoring this extremely important conversation with the American people today. One of the things that has been disturbing me about this entire debate is that people seem to really want to make some sort of bright- line demarcation or differentiation between the bipartisan infrastructure bill--which will create economic opportunities, get rid of those darned lead pipes, expand broadband, create good union jobs, help create some great jobs for guys--and the Build Back Better initiative, as if that is some sort of welfare, a giveaway. Social spending is what it is referred to, a safety net. So what I wanted to seek from you, a clarification from you, Mr. Horsford, particularly since you were appointed by the Committee on Ways and Means, along with our colleagues, Representatives Sewell and Gomez, to look at our racial equity issue. Of course, we know that African Americans and Latinos are more likely to be poor, have a greater wealth gap, and lack of educational opportunities, so that when we think that we are investing in their improvement, that somehow it is welfare.…”