Regional Economic and Infrastructure Development Act of 2007

Floor Speech

REGIONAL ECONOMIC AND INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT ACT OF 2007 -- (House of Representatives - October 04, 2007)

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Mr. JORDAN of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the work of the chairman of the committee and the ranking member. The motion to recommit that we have in front of us is an insurance policy. It will guarantee that no funds in the bill go to lobbyists or lobbying activities. This motion, in other words, is a step towards breaking that link between legislation and lobbyists.

Mr. Speaker, H.R. 3246, as we have heard from the language here on the floor today, is intended to aid the economic and infrastructure development in economically distressed regions of the country. Taxpayer dollars should be used for that purpose, and that purpose only.

The motion does two things: first, it prevents any of the funds authorized by this bill from being used to lobby or retain a lobbyist for the purposes of influencing a Federal, State or local government entity or officer. Second, the motion prohibits funds to pay for expenses related to the membership of an individual or entity in an organization or association.

Mr. Speaker, the majority promised in its opening-day rules package, section 202 of H. Res. 6, to end the K Street Project. This motion to recommit is policy that all Members should support. In fact, when this same language was offered to H.R. 569, the Water Quality Investment Act, it was approved by a 425-0 vote. That same act came out of this same committee, and the full House in unanimous fashion supported this same language.

Again, Mr. Speaker, this motion to recommit is an opportunity to improve the bill by adding explicit language to make sure that taxpayer dollars are used for their intended purpose.

Mr. Speaker, I would yield back the balance of my time.

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