Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2011

Floor Speech

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Mr. VAN HOLLEN. Mr. Chair, I rise in strong support of the Department of Transportation and Housing and Urban Development Appropriations Act for FY2011. This is a jobs bill and it is an economic development bill. It is about rebuilding our infrastructure and revitalizing our communities.

The transportation construction industry has been hard hit with this recession, as states tighten their belts and delay major projects. While we need a long-term surface transportation reauthorization, today's legislation makes vital investments to put people to work rebuilding communities. It includes $45.2 billion for roads and highways, and $11.3 billion for public transportation to bring our infrastructure back to a state of good repair and give Americans transportation options. It invests in Amtrak and high-speed rail to move people around the country. These programs create jobs in our communities.

Today's bill also invests in programs like the Public Housing Capital Fund and the Community Development Block Grant, which allow communities to make vital improvements to public housing and spur business expansion and job creation. The bill includes funding for foreclosure mitigation and rental assistance to stabilize neighborhoods by keeping people in their homes. And it supports housing for vulnerable populations, including homeless veterans, the elderly, and persons with disabilities.

Finally, this bill contains a vital investment for my constituents and the entire D.C. metropolitan region--$150 million for the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA). This funding, authorized by the Passenger Rail Investment and Improvement Act, is part of a 10-year plan to help WMATA make needed safety improvements and address its capital maintenance backlog. I thank Chairman Olver and the Committee for its continued support of WMATA, which serves so many federal employees and tourists in the District of Columbia.

Mr. Chair, the Transportation and Housing and Urban Development Appropriations Act is a jobs bill. It puts Americans to work to repair aging infrastructure, create new transportation options, and revitalize communities. I urge my colleagues to join me to support these vital investments.

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