Improve Our Infrastructure and Protect Our Children

Floor Speech

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Ms. GARCIA of Texas. Madam Speaker, I rise today to call attention to an urgent problem facing my district. Each and every one of these dots represents children with elevated toxic levels of lead in their blood. The red dots represent the higher levels, the yellow dots, obviously, the lower levels. You could almost draw my district if you follow the red dots.

The fact is, Madam Speaker, that many of these kids are being poisoned by lead in their homes and, yes, even in their schools. This is a problem that disproportionately affects Latinos in our community.

We need action to replace these lead pipes and ensure our kids have clean, safe water, no matter where they live. That is why I am proud of our work in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. This law will bring $2.9 billion to replace lead pipes in Texas schools.

While we have more work to do, our work in this Chamber is a critical first step to improving our infrastructure and protecting our children.

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