Statements on Introduced Bills and Joint Resolutions

Floor Speech

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Mr. PADILLA. Mr. President, I rise to speak in support of the Transportation Equity Act, which I introduced today.

As our Nation is making historic investments in our transportation infrastructure through the bipartisan intrastructure law, equity should be at the forefront of the Federal Government's plans to revitalize communities and ensure access, mobility, and opportunity for all.

One of President Biden's first actions in office was signing an Executive order on advancing racial equity and support for underserved communities through the Federal Government, which states, ``Our Nation deserves an ambitious whole-of-government equity agenda that matches the scale of the opportunities and challenges that we face.''

To accomplish this bold agenda, we need the interaction and involvement of diverse groups of stakeholders to ensure communities are heard and create effective policies.

Fortunately, we have a model for how we can bring such groups together to infuse equity into our transportation and infrastructure investments. In 2016, the U.S. Department of Transportation established the Advisory Committee on Transportation Equity to provide advice and recommendations on comprehensive, interdisciplinary issues related to transportation equity from a variety of stakeholders involved in transportation planning, design, research, policy, and advocacy.

That is why I am proud to introduce this bill with Senator Warnock to permanently reestablish the Advisory Committee on Transportation Equity within the U.S. Department of Transportation.

This bill would help recognize the role that transportation plays on related issues like public health, housing, accessibility, environmental justice, economic opportunity, and more.

I want to thank Senator Warnock for coleading this bill with me, and I hope our colleagues will join us in support of this bill to help redress inequities in transportation infrastructure and empower communities to build back better. ______

By Mr. DURBIN:

S. 3654. A bill to amend Chapter 31 of title 31, United States Code, to provide procedures for congressional disapproval of the issuance of additional debt; to the Committee on Finance.

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