Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2017

Floor Speech

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Mr. SULLIVAN. Mr. President, I have a motion to instruct conferees at the desk.

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Mr. SULLIVAN. Mr. President, this instruction relates to an earlier amendment I had, No. 4065. It is a simple amendment that would allow States and communities throughout our Nation to expedite the permitting process and construction of their bridges that pose safety concerns for their citizens. This would only apply to bridges that are built in the same place--they are not expanding bridges--same size, and bridges they are replacing. It is essentially maintenance on bridges. If State environmental agencies determine that Federal permitting requirements should be waived, then they are allowed to do this to expedite the permitting of the bridge.

Let me explain why this is important. Right now in America, there are 61,000 structurally deficient bridges in need of repair. Yet when we try to repair these bridges, it takes 5 years to 6 years just to get the Federal permitting requirements. This amendment--these instructions would allow this process to move much more quickly. It will be important for the safety of our citizens, to put Americans back to work, and to grow our economy. It is a commonsense instruction.

I know my colleagues on both sides of the aisle are focused on permitting reform. This is something very simple that we can do that will benefit all of our States and all of our citizens.

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Mr. SULLIVAN. I yield to my colleague from Maine.

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