Surface Transportation Extension Act Of 2009

Floor Speech

Surface Transportation Extension Act Of 2009

Mr. Speaker, I rise to lend my voice in support of the Surface Transportation Extension we are considering today. We must continue to fund ongoing projects and ensure ongoing programs don't grind to a halt. However we must continue to build on the work of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee and reauthorize our surface transportation programs. Transportation is an issue that affects virtually every American every day and should never be put on the back burner. When I came to Congress I fought to become a member of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee because I know the importance of these issues for the people of the California 37th as well as every American. I support limiting the extension to 3 months so these issues stay on the forefront of our agenda.

Report after report has outlined the unacceptable current state of our deteriorating transportation system and called for major and immediate reform. As a country we waste billions of dollars every year with unnecessary delays due to a crumbling and over-congested surface transportation system. We need to fundamentally rethink the way we move people and goods. We must simplify our transportation programs and focus on a performance based system. Finally, we must make the tough choices about how to fund these programs and avoid having to continuously patch the highway trust fund.

Transportation experts around the country agree this is a time for a bold new transportation vision and I look forward to working with my colleagues to reauthorize the Surface Transportation Program before the extension before us today runs out.

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