Tlaib, Bush, Bowman Reintroduce Resolution Recognizing the Human Rights to Utilities

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Representatives Rashida Tlaib (MI-12), Cori Bush (MO-01), and Jamaal Bowman Ed.D. (NY-16) reintroduced the Resolution Recognizing the Human Rights to Utilities, which affirms that access to safe, reliable, and affordable water, sanitation, electricity, heating, cooling, broadband, and public transit are all basic human rights necessary for a thriving life and healthy communities.

“Utilities are the foundation we build our lives upon,” said Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib. “People can’t survive without water, and yet we live in a country where your water gets turned off if you don’t have enough money to keep up with rising rates. It’s an outrage that in the richest country in the world, we subject millions of our families to utility insecurity, substandard and dangerous services, and inhumane shutoffs. I’m proud to introduce this resolution alongside my colleagues to change the conversation around what we all deserve and take the profit motive out of providing everyone with the basics of a good life.”

“Every year, skyrocketing utility costs force families into heartbreaking decisions, like choosing between heating their homes or keeping the lights on in winter because they can’t afford both. I understand these tough choices firsthand because I’ve had to make these decisions as a single mother of two,” said Congresswoman Cori Bush. “That’s why I’m proud to reintroduce the Utilities as a Human Right Resolution alongside Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib and Congressman Jamaal Bowman. This resolution is a crucial step toward ensuring that every child, person, and family can have their basic necessities met, especially affordable and reliable utilities. Congress must take action to end the corporate greed that is depriving millions of families in St. Louis and across the nation of essential services like heat, electricity, water, and WiFi.”

“Access to basic utilities is not a luxury. Whether it be water, energy, broadband, or sanitation, we must treat these utilities as the life and death matters they are,” said Congressman Jamaal Bowman Ed.D. “In New York’s 16th District, and across the United States, millions struggle to afford basic utilities, or lack access entirely. Together with the creep of privatization, monopolies that raise prices and lower quality, and utility infrastructure that is at its weakest in marginalized and frontline communities, Black and Brown people bear the brunt of an unjust utility system. This resolution pushes back against corporate utility interests and privatization, and it recognizes reality: access to utilities is a basic human right. To build a truly just society where every American can thrive, it must be a reality that every person has access to safe, reliable, and affordable utilities that don’t create new harms.”

Another record-breaking summer of heat and extreme weather has once again exposed the dangerous shortcomings of our utility systems. Communities across the country deserve access to affordable utilities to keep their homes comfortable, their water running, and their internet connected. Yet utilities and for-profit service providers are making it harder for families by relentlessly raising rates for these indispensable services, failing to invest in reliability, and imposing punitive collection practices, including draconian service shutoffs, with Black, brown, and low-income communities disproportionately harmed.

The legislation is cosponsored by: Representatives Carson (IN-07), Huffman (CA-02), Jonathan Jackson (IL-01), Barbara Lee (CA-12), Summer Lee (PA-12), Ocasio-Cortez (NY-14), Omar (MN-05), Pressley (MA-07), Ramirez (IL-03), and Watson Coleman (NJ-12).

The legislation is endorsed by more than 265 national and regional organizations, including the Center for Biological Diversity, Food & Water Watch, Corporate Accountability, Free Press Action, Friends of the Earth US, Sunrise Movement, and the National Housing Law Project. A full list of endorsing organizations is available here.

“This resolution puts families’ health and safety ahead of greedy corporate utilities,” said Gaby Sarri-Tobar with the Center for Biological Diversity Action Fund. “After another summer of deadly heat waves, it’s clearer than ever that access to utilities is a matter of life and death for many households. Yet profit-driven utilities are jacking up utility bills and putting millions of lives at risk by cutting off families from essential services like electricity, water and broadband. Congress has to protect energy-poor communities from inhumane utility behavior and champion solutions to ensure just, affordable, resilient, renewable energy for everyone.”

“Water and other essential utilities are basic human rights that must be guaranteed for all people, especially in the face of fossil-fuel driven climate disasters,” said Mary Grant, the Public Water for All Campaign Director at Food & Water Watch. “We applaud Reps. Tlaib, Bush and Bowman for their leadership on this resolution. We urge all members of Congress to commit to protect people from the harms of water privatization and utility profiteering and work for safe, affordable water and utility service for every person.”

“Equitable access to affordable and reliable high-speed internet, power and water is a necessity for people to survive and thrive,” said Heather Franklin, Internet Campaign Director for Free Press Action. “In the face of compounding existential crises, including human-driven climate change, no one — no matter who they are or where they live — should have to worry about their ability to call for help, communicate with loved ones, or safely turn on the lights or faucet. We thank Representatives Tlaib, Bush and Bowman for their leadership and for putting people over corporate profits.”

A full list of quotes from endorsing organizations is available here.

The full text of the resolution is available here.

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