WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. House Majority Whip James E. Clyburn delivered the following remarks today on the Floor in advance of the U.S. House of Representatives’ vote on H.R. 5376, the Build Back Better Act:
As Prepared for Delivery
“This Build Back Better bill is the third leg of a three-legged stool that balances the American Rescue Plan signed by President Biden last March and the bi-partisan infrastructure bill signed by President Biden last Monday.
These three bills provide the wherewithal to fix our roads and bridges; repair our rails, deepen our harbors; and provide long awaited broadband to households and neighborhoods.
Mr. Speaker, I have often remarked that America is not in need of being made great; it is great and has been for a long time.
I often quote Alexis De Tocqueville’s observation that America’s greatness is not that it is more enlighten than any other nation, but rather, that it has always been able to repair its faults.
The Build Back Better Act will repair some longstanding faults, many of which have been exacerbated by COVID-19, and our feckless early response to it.
This Build Back Better legislation will make health care accessible and affordable for the 2.2 million low-income, uninsured Americans that exist in the Medicaid coverage gap.
It makes benefits accessible and affordable to millions of children who will be able to continue receiving the Child Tax Credit.
It will make childcare and preschool accessible and affordable for children who have been struggling to get a fair start in life, and it will make housing accessible and affordable for their parents.
The Build Back Better Act will make clean air and plant life on this planet accessible and affordable for future generations by taking historic steps to combat climate change.
The coronavirus pandemic didn’t just cause great harm for some; it exposed great harm that has existed for far too long, denying far too many of our citizens access to America’s greatness.
Build Back Better provides an opportunity to make more of our nation’s greatness accessible and affordable for all.”
