Department of the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2018

Floor Speech

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Mr. Chairman, I rise to offer amendment No. 49 to the underlying bill, H.R. 3354, Make America Secure and Prosperous Appropriations Act.

Mr. Chairman, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, over a 5-year period, has failed three attempts to place tolls on Interstate 80. Pennsylvania's failed plan has cost millions of dollars, led actually to the indictments of several political insiders, and abetted in diminishing the average citizen's faith in their public institutions.

Unfortunately, Pennsylvania still has authorizing language for tolls of Interstate 80 in State law. Any move by Pennsylvania to dust off the plans to toll one of its interstates must be met with scrutiny and open public debate, and this amendment will ensure that that happens.

The amendment I have offered with Mr. Kelly will simply limit funds from this bill for the purpose of placing tolls on Interstate 80 in Pennsylvania during the fiscal year 2018.

Mr. Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Mr. Chairman, I am not sure. I appreciate the gentleman's opinion, but I don't see where Congress does not have input into a Federal highway, and that is what Interstate 80 is. It is approximately 311 miles. It is more than well-maintained. The cost of it, with significant gas taxes levied today, pays for not just the maintenance, but the construction and the improvements that are necessary.

Again, we are talking Federal gas tax, again, a nexus to this body that the gentleman doesn't seem to realize. What this amendment does is just call on and require an open debate with scrutiny, and so I, quite frankly, continue to just ask the support for this amendment.

Mr. Chair, I reserve the balance of my time

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Source