Repeal Big Oil Tax Subsidies Act-- Motion to Proceed
Floor Speech
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Ms. KLOBUCHAR. Mr. President, I rise today to stress the critical infrastructure needs across our Nation and urge the House of Representatives to act quickly and pass the surface transportation reauthorization bill that we passed in the Senate with an overwhelming bipartisan vote. The fact is that we have neglected the roads, bridges, and mass transit that millions of Americans rely on for far too long. I know that. A bridge collapsed just a few blocks from my house. It wasn't just a bridge, it was an 8-lane highway, and 13 people died and dozens of cars were submerged in the river. A bridge just doesn't fall down in America--well, it did that day--and I am committed to passing this highway bill. This bill is important for jobs, and it is important for drivers who sit in congestion. Americans spend a collective 4.2 billion hours a year stuck in traffic at a cost to the economy of $78.2 billion.
So what is the solution? Pass this highway bill. It reduces the number of highway programs from over 100 down to around 30, defines clear national goals for our transportation policy, and it streamlines environmental permitting.
I spoke to 75 highway contractors today, and they are ready to go. They want this bill to pass. Companies such as Caterpillar, which employs 750 people at its road-paving equipment facility in Minnesota--I visited that company in August. Caterpillars' employees are the kinds of people who are out there on the front lines of American industry. They want to build these roads and are the ones who are building the products when we talk about ``Made in America.''
With the short construction season for winter States such as Minnesota--my friend from California may not quite have the same situation--we cannot delay, delay, delay on this highway bill. We cannot stop these construction projects in their tracks.
It is time to pass the Senate highway bill. It has bipartisan support, with 74 out of 100 Senators voting for this bill. I ask that the House of Representatives quickly pass this bill and get this done without delay. It means jobs, it means safety, and it means a future for America.
I thank the Chair.
I yield the floor.
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