U.S. Congressman Marc Veasey (D-TX) held a town hall meeting on November 29 via a telephone call. He represents the 33rd District of Texas that includes the Dallas and Fort Worth Area. During the town hall, Veasey provided updates to the public on the state of COVID relief efforts, the Jobs and Infrastructure Act, and the Build Back Better Act.
Veasey said the recently passed infrastructure bill will bring “much-needed” funding to the state.
“We need the infrastructure here probably more than anybody,” Veasy said. “The bi-partisan legislation invested more than $35 million for infrastructure projects across Texas and also includes key priorities that I am asking for.”
Among the numerous pages of legislation, the infrastructure bill will extend a program that Veasey originally began at the onset of the coronavirus pandemic to expand access to broadband internet for low-income residents. Veasey said the bill will provide funding to permanently establish the program.
Veasey also said that the infrastructure bill will help put Texas on the right path toward a net-zero emissions future.
“Additionally, the infrastructure bill is going to include infrastructure jobs from the bipartisan support that I was able to get into the bill,” Veasy added. “That’s necessary to enable us to have a net-zero emissions economy. That includes provisions from legislation that will host funding for local energy efficiency projects and provide grants to build or retool facilities that process battery materials and manufacturing of battery components. And, we aren’t just stopping at the infrastructure bill.”
Veasy said that the Build Back Better act will expand clean air and water efforts, help fight inflation, and provide additional funding for healthcare and the Texas power grid.
“I want to stress that the Build Back Better act is fully paid for. In fact, it reduces the federal deficit by $100 billion over ten years by asking rich Americans and rich corporations to pay their fair share of taxes,” Veasey said. He promised that no one making less than $400,000 annually will pay higher taxes.
Veasey said that the “most important part of the town hall” meeting was the opportunity to encourage Texans to get vaccinated against COVID-19 and to get their booster shots.
“Don’t be one of those people who are coming up with all kinds of reasons on why you’re not going to get this vaccination,” Veasey said, stressing that the coming holidays will result in greater person-to-person exposure that is linked to spikes in case numbers. “Do it for America. Do it so we can get back on our feet and come out of this stronger than any country in the world.”
Veasey held the town hall as an opportunity to share information and collect feedback from attendees. During the town hall, members of Veasey’s office asked a series of polling questions relating to the infrastructure bill, Build Back Better, and the priorities that Texans have heading into an election year.
Twenty-six percent of respondents answered that the most important aspect of new legislative efforts is expanding affordable home care for older adults and those with disabilities. An additional twenty-six percent believe that lowering prescription drug costs is the most essential part of the bill.
