(Dr. Ruiz’s Provisions)
On July 2nd, the U.S. House of Representatives passed H.R. 2 the Moving Forward Act – an infrastructure package focused on creating millions of American jobs, combatting the climate crisis, and addressing disparities throughout America. Included in H.R. 2 were several of Congressman Raul Ruiz’s legislative priorities, including an investigation into heat related illness in school buses without air conditioning, the Tribal Internet Expansion Act, and a bill to improve the Desert Sage Youth Wellness Center.
“Our local economy needs bold action to create jobs, rebuild schools, roads, and bridges, and invest in a clean energy future for our children and grandchildren,” said Dr. Ruiz. “H.R. 2, the Moving Forward Act, contains robust improvements to our nation’s infrastructure, and I am proud it includes my provisions to strengthen school bus safety in extreme heat, increase access to our local Desert Sage Youth Wellness Center, take land into trust for the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians, and expand broadband access in Indian Country. This infrastructure package will improve the health and wellbeing of families, businesses, and our environment. We must repair our roads and bridges, fortify our school buildings, and upgrade and invest in clean water infrastructure.”
Background
H.R. 2 included four of Dr. Ruiz’s Priorities
• H.R. 4495 – a bill to authorize the Indian Health Service to construct an access road to the Desert Sage Youth Wellness Center, the only IHS Youth Treatment Center in California.
• H.R. 4059 – a bill to take land into trust of the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians.
• H.R. 4449 – the Tribal Internet Expansion Act, which would add tribal lands to the list of priority areas for the FCC’s Universal Service Fund
• A requirement for the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to study the safety effects of equipping school buses with air conditioning.
H.R. 2, will bring benefits to California’s 36th District by investing in clean and renewable energy, reducing carbon pollution, and improving drinking water:
• Carbon Pollution Reduction Grant Program to reduce greenhouse gasses in transportation corridors
• Electric Vehicle Charging Stations to reduce range-anxiety and promote the proliferation of electric vehicles.
• Zero Emission Bus Grants which will expand the fleet of buses that run on clean energy like hydrogen.
• Community Water Systems Investment which will invest and improve water systems in disadvantaged communities and help communities like the Oasis Mobile Home Park.
• Low Income Solar Investment which will provide funding for community solar and residential solar in low-income neighborhoods.
H.R. 2 will help rebuild America’s infrastructure while creating millions of good-paying jobs, combatting the climate crisis, and addressing disparities throughout America.
• Rebuilds our highways, bridges, transit, rail, airports, ports and harbors by investing nearly $500 billion to improve safety, reduce gridlock, and put the U.S. on a path toward zero emissions from the transportation sector, all while protecting American jobs with strong Buy America provisions and labor protections.
• Invests in our children’s futures by helping safely reopen and rebuild schools with a $130 billion investment in school infrastructure targeted at high-poverty schools that do not meet health and safety standards, while also creating 2 million jobs. Democrats are also investing billions in upgrading childcare facilities to ensure compliance with current and future public health directives.
• Modernizes our energy infrastructure for a clean energy future by investing more than $70 billion to transform our electric grid, promote new renewable energy infrastructure and strengthen existing infrastructure, help develop an electric vehicle charging network, and support energy efficiency and climate resilience.
• Invests boldly in affordable housing by directing over $100 billion to reduce housing inequality, create jobs, stimulate the economy, improve living conditions and increase environmental sustainability and climate resilience.
• Expands affordable high-speed Internet to underserved communities with a $100 billion investment that promotes competition, connects children to remote learning, closes broadband adoption and digital skills gaps, and improves affordability.
• Upgrades hospitals and health care infrastructure by investing $30 billion to increase capacity and strengthen care, help community health centers respond to COVID-19 and future public health emergencies, improve clinical laboratory infrastructure, support the Indian Health Service’s infrastructure, and increase capacity for community-based care.
• Ensures all communities have clean water by investing tens of billions to remove dangerous contaminants from our drinking water and invests in new, safe wastewater infrastructure.
-Hernan Quintas
Find your latest news here at the Hemet & San Jacinto Chronicle
Search: Dr. Ruiz’s Provisions
