Authorizing Additional Funds for Emergency Repairs and Reconstruction of Interstate I-35 Bridge in Minneapolis, Minnesota
Floor Speech
AUTHORIZING ADDITIONAL FUNDS FOR EMERGENCY REPAIRS AND RECONSTRUCTION OF INTERSTATE I-35 BRIDGE IN MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA -- (House of Representatives - August 03, 2007)
BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT
Mr. WALZ of Minnesota. I thank the distinguished gentleman, my fellow Minnesotan, the chairman of Transportation, and, as the Speaker of the House so aptly put, no one in this country knows more about this issue. If there's anyone that comes close, it's the distinguished ranking member from Florida, a gentleman that as sitting on the Transportation Committee, I've come to see the wisdom of his words and the commitment to this country's infrastructure. So I think the Speaker of the House is right, two gentlemen that are showing incredible leadership on this and that our Nation should feel incredibly proud to have you there. I thank you both.
A special thank you to all my colleagues in this House. The citizens of Minnesota in responding to this have witnessed something that I think most of us here should be incredibly proud of. In less than 48 hours of this tragedy, this body came together, crafted a piece of legislation to provide relief, and is prepared tonight to deliver that forward to them. To the people who are out there, those citizens, those first responders, our elected officials, from Governor Pawlenty to Mayor Rybak and right down the line have been there working together, showing that this great Nation when we put our mind to it and come together to relieve the suffering of one another can get exactly that done.
It's with a heavy heart that all of us are here, but it's one of optimism and forward-looking that we will address the needs of Minnesota, and, as the distinguished gentleman from Alaska so aptly put, we're prepared to make sure that this never happens again and another family never has to find out that a bridge collapsed as their family members were coming home.
Source