Dingell Applauds Advancement of Once-in-a-Generation Investments for Hard-working Families

Press Release

WASHINGTON, DC - Today, Congresswoman Debbie Dingell (MI-12) applauded the advancement of the Build Back Better Act out of the House Energy and Commerce Committee. After a three-day markup of the bill, which outlines legislative recommendations for budget reconciliation, the legislation now awaits final consideration by the Budget Committee before heading to the floor.

"Our country is hurting -- we're still in the midst of a pandemic, our communities lack access to clean water, we're experiencing climate change in real time, and our economy continues to struggle," said Rep. Dingell. "We're in a critical moment to provide for hard-working American families and jumpstart our economy, while also combatting the climate crisis and ensuring the U.S. remains competitive. I'm thankful to Chairman Pallone for his leadership throughout this process, and I look forward to working with my colleagues to help us build back better for the long-term through these important investments."

The Build Back Better Act includes strong investments in the following issue areas that Dingell has been leading on:

Home- and Community-Based Services

Dingell has led the fight for a better long-term care system because she knows that the current system leaves too many behind and does not adequately support workers. Dingell knows firsthand the challenges facing the long-term care system, from low wages for workers to thousands on HCBS waitlists to so many people not knowing how to get the care they desperately need.
This critical funding for HCBS included would expand this program so that seniors and people with disabilities can get the care they need in the setting of their choice, while also ensuring care workers are receiving pay and benefits commensurate with their work.
Lead Service Line Replacement

Dingell has long led the fight on ensuring safe and clean drinking water for every single American and prioritized the full replacement of lead service lines nationwide.
Recently, she co-led a letter to leadership calling for the inclusion of robust investments to remove ALL of America's estimated 10 million lead drinking water service lines and components currently in use as part of any major infrastructure legislation moving through the chamber. And she, along with many of her colleagues, continues to push for strong investments in the reconciliation package to replace all lead service lines.
EV Infrastructure and Domestic Manufacturing

Dingell is focused on robust investments to build a national network of zero-emission vehicle charging infrastructure to support a fully electrified transportation sector.
Dingell and Rep. Yvette D. Clarke sent a letter to leadership earlier in August outlining the need for $85 billion for EV charging infrastructure.
Dingell has been equally pushing for increased incentive investments for electric vehicle production as well as innovating safe and clean ways to build batteries right here in the United States and establish greater incentives for manufacturers to build and retool factories to build the vehicles of the future, this includes the Advance Technology Vehicles loan program and Domestic Manufacturing Conversion Grant program at the Department of Energy.
Clean Energy and Sustainability Accelerator

This legislation includes a $27 billion investment for a Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund to help carry out the aim of Dingell's Clean Energy and Sustainability Accelerator, which builds on the proven green bank model by publicly financing and stimulating private investments in clean, renewable energy and emissions reduction projects -- creating jobs and helping shift to a clean economy.
Low Income Water Assistance

Rep. Dingell has continuously led on water accessibility and affordability. The Build Back Better Act includes $500 million for the Department of Health and Human Services to assist low-income water customers in reducing arrearages and water rates for those customers through grants, a provision Dingell helped secure.
Dingell continues to push for legislation that would establish a new permanent water assistance program through the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for low-income households to access affordable drinking water and wastewater services. This is part of the Low-Income Water Customer Assistance Programs Act which she introduced with Reps. Blunt Rochester, Katko, and Tlaib.
Air Quality Monitoring

Dingell and Rep. Blunt Rochester have been leading an effort to urge for the inclusion of robust investments for air quality monitoring infrastructure to protect our communities and our environment. The Build Back Better Act includes $315 million for the Environmental Protection Agency to provide important air quality monitoring grants and carry out sections of the Clean Air Act to help us mitigate harmful greenhouse gases that are the source of the climate crisis.
Medicare Dental, Vision, and Hearing Coverage

Dingell is a strong proponent of making historic investments in dental, vision, and hearing coverage for seniors under Medicare. Currently, dental benefits are not generally covered by Medicare, while Medicare excludes coverage for hearing aids and examinations pertaining to hearing aids and provides only limited vision coverage -- this legislation includes funding to fix this challenge.
Domestic Manufacturing Supply Chains

Dingell understands the importance of investing in American jobs and manufacturing, which has dramatic ramifications for innovation, competitiveness, and national security. Dingell has continued to focus on efforts to promote a robust, resilient, and secure domestic supply chain, including production of medical equipment, PPE, semiconductors, advanced batteries, and ensuring our nation's cyber security.
The legislation invests $10 billion to monitor and identify critical manufacturing supply chain vulnerabilities that imperil our national security and economic vitality and support domestic companies and other domestic entities in closing those vulnerabilities.

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