Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users
TRANSPORTATION EQUITY ACT: A LEGACY FOR USERS -- (House of Representatives - March 10, 2005)
Mrs. CAPITO. Mr. Speaker, by direction of the Committee on Rules, I call up House Resolution 144 and ask for its immediate consideration.
BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT
Mrs. CAPITO. Mr. Speaker, for the purpose of debate only, I yield the customary 30 minutes to the gentlewoman from New York (Ms. Slaughter), pending which I yield myself such time as I may consume. During consideration of this resolution, all time yielded is for the purpose of debate only.
Mr. Speaker, on Wednesday, the Committee on Rules met and granted a structured rule for further consideration of H.R. 3, the Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy For Users, more commonly referred to as TEA-LU. This rule provides for no further general debate, except for the final period of 10 minutes contemplated in the House Resolution 140. Finally, the rule makes in order the 12 amendments printed in the Committee on Rules report and provides for one motion to recommit, with or without instructions. Mr. Speaker, the rule we have before us is a fair rule, and I believe all Members should be able to support it.
Mr. Speaker, since October 1, 2003, Federal surface transportation programs have been forced to operate on a basis of a short-term extension. We are approaching the end of the most recent extension, which will expire on May 31, 2005. Our Nation's highways desperately need the assurance and stability of a 5-year reauthorization provided by H.R. 3.
As a former member of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, I can appreciate the incredible bipartisan effort that has gone into writing this legislation. I would like to applaud the efforts of the gentleman from Alaska (Chairman Young) and the gentleman from Minnesota (Ranking Member Oberstar) for bringing this legislation to the floor in an expedient and bipartisan manner.
I look forward to the passage of this bill and hope that our colleagues in the other body will take swift action.
The highway bill is a vitally important investment in our Nation's surface transportation system and fosters job growth across the country. In fact, it is estimated that for every $1 trillion in highway funding, 47,500 jobs are created. The highway bill provides $284 billion in funding for vital programs that will impact citizens across the States, improving safety and accessibility.
In my district, the highway bill represents the strongest step forward ever to replace U.S. Route 35, a 2-lane death trap through West Virginia's Mason and Putnam counties. U.S. Route 35 is dominated by tractor trailers and tanker trucks traveling south from Ohio and north from Interstate 64 in Charleston. Far too often, the high volume of traffic swallows up local commuters, resulting in tragic motorist fatalities.
With the passage of the highway bill, construction of a new 4-lane appropriate to meet the demand will be built, diverting traffic around dozens of residential neighborhoods. Mr. Speaker, this is just one example from my home district, and there are countless others from across the country.
Mr. Speaker, I am a strong supporter of this legislation, which provides for countless improvements in the Nation's surface transportation system. The numerous projects and programs authorized by this bill will improve our highway systems and the ability of our constituents to travel from State to State. To that end, I urge my colleagues to support the rule and the underlying bill.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT
Mrs. CAPITO. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
I would like to thank my colleague, the gentleman from Massachusetts, and I would like to reiterate as well that this legislation is crucial to the continued growth of our economy. We are creating jobs and improving the ability of current workers to commute to their places of employment, among a myriad of other transportation issues.
I look forward to the strong bipartisan support of this legislation. I urge a "yes" vote on the rule and the underlying legislation.
Mr. ANDREWS. Mr. Speaker, I would like to take this opportunity to express my support for the rule, H. Res. 144, to the TEA-LU, H.R. 3, bill, which makes in order the Pascrell/Menendez/LoBiondo Pay-to-Play amendment. The consideration of this amendment is crucial to restoring the integrity of New Jersey's government and to protecting federal funds allocated to the State.
New Jersey government and politics are long overdue for a cleansing. For too long, New Jersey taxpayers have paid a corruption tax-the cost of decisions made to benefit campaign donors rather than taxpayers. At the present time, the New Jersey legislature is attempting to restore its integrity by barring companies, who have made political contributions to a state government or political party official, from receiving state contracts worth more than $17,500. This is a critical component of the State's reform package and must be enacted and maintained for genuine change to occur in New Jersey.
Standing in the way of New Jersey's cleansing is the US Department of Transportation, USDOT, who has cited concerns that our State's pay-to-play reform would illegally stifle competition for government contracts. New Jersey has challenged the USDOT's decision in the court. Currently, the case is pending.
To weed out the corruption that has plagued our State and resulted in our citizens mistrust of their government, the Pascrell/Menendez/LoBiondo amendment is essential. Consideration and subsequently the passage of this amendment are imperative for New Jersey to attain real ethical reform.
Again, I commend the Rules Committee for declaring the Pascrell/Menendez/LoBiondo Pay-to-Play amendment in order today and urge its adoption.
Mrs. CAPITO. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time, and I move the previous question on the resolution.
BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT
http://thomas.loc.gov