Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users
TRANSPORTATION EQUITY ACT: A LEGACY FOR USERS -- (House of Representatives - March 09, 2005)
Mrs. CAPITO. Madam Speaker, by direction of the Committee on Rules, I call up House Resolution 140 and ask for its immediate consideration.
BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT
Mrs. CAPITO. Madam 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.
Madam Speaker, on Tuesday, the Committee on Rules met and granted a structured rule for H.R. 3, the Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy For Users, commonly referred to as TEA-LU. This rule provides for 2 hours and 20 minutes of general debate. The rule incorporates title VIII, the Transportation Discretionary Spending Guarantee, into H.R. 3, and makes in order 10 amendments printed in part B of the Committee on Rules report.
Madam Speaker, I would like to note that this rule is the first of two rules that the Committee on Rules will be granting for H.R. 3. Several Members submitted amendments yesterday, and it is the intention of the Committee on Rules to continue its consideration of these amendments later this afternoon and provide for additional amendment debate.
Madam Speaker, the rule we have before us is a fair rule that I believe all Members should be able to support.
Madam Speaker, by its own deadline, Congress must act to reauthorize federally funded surface transportation programs before the current extension runs out on May 31, 2005. As a former member of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, I can appreciate the incredible bipartisan effort that goes into writing this legislation. I would like to applaud the efforts of the gentleman from Alaska (Chairman Young) and the ranking member, the gentleman from Minnesota (Mr. 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.
Madam Speaker, 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 billion spent in highway funding, 47,500 jobs are created, quite an amount.
This is very much a jobs bill for America, containing various new projects and improvements. The highway bill provides $284 billion in funding for vital programs that would impact citizens across the States, improving safety and accessibility. The legislation reauthorizes highway and motor carrier safety programs, it authorizes $3.2 billion for the National Highway and Traffic Safety Administration, which carries out highway safety programs. It authorizes $2.9 billion for the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, which regulates truck safety.
The highway bill authorizes $6 billion for a new competitive grant program to fund projects of regional or national significance aiming to improve the movement of goods and people to designations beyond that immediate area.
In my district, the highway bill represents the strongest step forward ever made to replace U.S. Route 35, a two-lane basic death trap through West Virginia's Mason and Putnam Counties. U.S. Route 35 is dominated by tractor trailer and tanker trucks traveling south from Ohio or 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 four-lane highway appropriate to meet the demands will be built diverting traffic around dozens of residential neighborhoods.
Mr. Speaker, this is just one example from my home district. There are countless others from across the country. Mr. Speaker, I am a strong supporter of this legislation that provides for countless improvements to our 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 this 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.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to reiterate that this is the first rule for this bill. There will be further consideration of amendments later this afternoon and will continue into tomorrow with further consideration of additional amendments.
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.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to reiterate the importance and congratulate not only my colleague, the gentlewoman from New York (Ms. Slaughter), but the chairman of this committee, the gentleman from Alaska (Mr. Young), and the ranking member, the gentleman from Minnesota (Mr. Oberstar), for their terrific efforts in seeing this bill brought to the floor; and I look forward to its swift passage.
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