Hire More Heroes Act of 2015

Floor Speech

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Mr. TURNER. Mr. Chairman, I rise in opposition to this earmark, as I am a cosponsor and am in support of this amendment, No. 57, offered by Ms. Herrera Beutler.

This has been interesting in the debate because it has been absolutely clarified on both sides that we see this as an earmark. Basically, seven States take from this bill a disproportionate amount based on a formula that declares them high-density States: New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Maryland, Rhode Island, and Delaware.

If you do not live in one of these States and if you are a Member of Congress, you should vote for this amendment because declaring them high-density States is a meaningless designation. For example, Chicago, Los Angeles, and many, many urban areas throughout our country are high density and deserve to be able to participate in this fund, but they cannot because they are not located in one of these States that has largely been, as the ranking member has indicated, a Senate formula set-aside.

Our Founding Fathers, when they came together to create the system of the House and the Senate, did so so that we would have equality, a balance between each of the States and their populations. This is not a balance when you have a set-aside for seven States.

Once again, I would call on all of my fellow colleagues who do not live in New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Maryland, Rhode Island, and Delaware to vote for this amendment by Ms. Herrera Beutler. She has identified that this is an earmark for these States and that it robs money from other States that need assistance with public transportation.

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Mr. TURNER. I urge my colleagues to vote for this amendment because it does correct an injustice.

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