Adams Delivers Floor Speech on Build Back Better Framework

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Tonight, Congresswoman Alma Adams (NC-12) delivered remarks on the floor of the US House of Representatives on President Biden's Build Back Better agenda during a special order hour hosted by the Congressional Black Caucus.

Video of the speech is available for download and on YouTube.

Marty Johnson, writing for The Hill, reported, "The $1.75 trillion framework agreement for President Biden's ‘Build Back Better' plan represents a significant victory for Black lawmakers, who have been adamant that promises made to Black communities be kept by the White House."

Remarks as prepared for delivery:

Mr. Speaker –

I rise this evening to speak about the importance of passing the Build Back Better Act. This legislation will be nothing short of transformational for Black America.

It extends the Child Tax Credit for a year, cutting child poverty in half. In North Carolina, that's a lifeline for hundreds of thousands of children who go to bed hungry every night.

It puts $150 billion dollars towards affordable housing, which has been described as the "single largest and most comprehensive investment in affordable housing in history."

In Charlotte and so many other communities across the country, that means real progress on our affordable housing crisis, and real relief for over half a million Americans who don't have a roof over their heads.

As the founder and co-chair of the Congressional Bipartisan HBCU Caucus, I am proud to say this package provides approximately $10 billion specifically for Historically Black Colleges and Universities and other Minority Serving Institutions, including $3 billion for research and development grants at these institutions, and $6 billion for increased Pell Grants and institutional support to lower the cost of college; and Universal Child Care and Pre-K will prepare children to receive the education they need to succeed in school and be admitted to college.

As the co-founder and co-chair of the Black Maternal Health Caucus, I'm also proud to say the Build Back Better Act includes all eligible provisions of our Momnibus legislation and permanently expands yearlong postpartum Medicaid and CHIP coverage in every state. The maternal health and morbidity crisis in this country is unacceptable, but the Build Back Better Act gets us closer where every parent who enters the maternity ward and every child born in America makes it home safe.

Finally, I would like to take a point of personal privilege to recognize the hard work of our Congressional Black Caucus Chair, Joyce Beatty, and all our members and committee chairs on this legislation.

I believe that promises made must be promises kept, and this package keeps our promise to all Americans.

I implore my colleagues – let's pass the Build Back Better Act and the Bipartisan Infrastructure Framework together.

Thank you, and I yield back.

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