Investing in A New Vision for the Environment and Surface Transportation in America Act

Floor Speech

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Mr. JEFFRIES. Madam Speaker, I thank the distinguished chair of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee for yielding and for his tremendous leadership as it relates to the Moving Forward Act.

House Democrats throughout the 116th Congress have been working on lowering healthcare costs and bigger paychecks leading with an emphasis on fixing our crumbling bridges, roads, tunnels, airports, mass transportation system, public schools, public housing, and all other aspects of infrastructure.

I oppose this amendment because Davis-Bacon protections are central to the effort to deliver a living wage to everyday Americans.

Here in this country, when you work hard and play by the rules, you should be able to provide a comfortable living for yourself and for your family. But that basic contract has been broken. It is broken because of the globalization of our economy. It is broken because of the outsourcing of good-paying American jobs. It is broken because of poorly negotiated trade deals. It is broken because of the rise of automation. And it is broken because of the decline in unionization.

So the central question that we face in the aftermath of the Great Recession and now in the midst of another dramatic economic decline is, will we be able to preserve the great American middle class and all those who aspire to be part of it? That is what Davis-Bacon prevailing wage protections are all about. And we on this side of the aisle stand with those everyday Americans, stand with those hardworking Americans, yes, stand with those unionized Americans who are pursuing the American Dream, and we should be facilitating that, not undermining it here in the United States Congress.

Vote ``no'' against this amendment.

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