Responsibility and Professionally Invigorating Development Act of 2013

Floor Speech

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Mr. VAN HOLLEN. Mr. Chair, I rise in opposition to H.R. 2641, which would limit public input in the federal decision-making process and short-circuit responsible review of taxpayer-funded projects.

This legislation would create a new, convoluted review process for certain projects, setting rigid, arbitrary deadlines for even the most complex and hazardous plans and deeming them approved if the deadlines are not met. It allows for clear conflict of interest by giving project sponsors the authority to do their own environmental review. Finally, it confuses the process and risks litigation by blurring lines between state and federal law, and agency and private sector authority.

Complicating our public input process will not jumpstart construction projects. The only way to do that is by replenishing the Highway Trust Fund to repair our crumbling roads and bridges, and investing in the backlog of already-approved water resources projects that are on hold due to lack of funds. I urge my colleagues to support infrastructure investment and vote no on this bill.

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