Responsibly and Professionally Invigorating Development Act of 2013

Floor Speech

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Ms. DelBENE. Mr. Speaker, this is the final amendment to the bill, which will not kill the bill or send it back to committee. If adopted, the bill will immediately proceed to final passage, as amended.

Infrastructure improvements and construction projects are crucial not only for safety, but also for a robust and strong economy. Unfortunately, many of our roads and bridges are in a state of disrepair. This isn't the result of environmental review processes, but, unfortunately, a shortsighted failure to invest in our crumbling infrastructure.

We need to invest in safety improvements for our bridges and renovations along major highways, so that we don't experience tragedies like the Skagit Valley I-5 bridge collapse in my district last year.

For Washington State, moving forward on construction and infrastructure projects that efficiently move people and goods will improve connections to Washington's ports, support trade, help connect people to their jobs, and spur economic growth.

I understand that these projects are a valuable driver of job growth and can put people back to work; and I agree with supporters of this legislation, that Congress must do everything possible to remove barriers to our economic recovery and to job creation.

But we simply don't have data to suggest that regulatory red tape and overregulation through the National Environmental Policy Act, or NEPA, are hampering construction projects or impeding job growth.

In fact, a 2012 Congressional Research Service report called into question the idea that NEPA compliance is a source of delay in Federal highway projects and found that delays in permitting for construction projects are more often tied to, among other things, a lack of project funding, whether from State, local, or Federal sources.

This is a real problem and one that Congress can help solve by making targeted investments in our Nation's infrastructure, whether by passing a final Water Resources Development Act reauthorization bill or by reforming the highway trust fund to provide more adequate funding for roads and bridge construction.

Instead, the RAPID Act, in its current form, is based on the flawed premise that our current laws--not only NEPA, but laws like the Clean Air Act and the Clean Water Act--impede economic growth. In fact, these laws serve important purposes, such as protecting private property owners, local communities, and tribal governments that may be impacted by Federal actions.

While this bill has a worthy goal--to prevent delays in the approval of proposed construction projects--this cannot come at the expense of our public health and safety, our environment, or the rights of private property owners.

My amendment would ensure that this bill does not override the current regulatory protections governing certain construction projects.

Just weeks after a hazardous chemical spill harmed the water supply for residents of West Virginia, we cannot afford to undermine regulatory protections that have been in place for decades as a result of the Clean Air and Clean Water Acts.

So my amendment excludes construction projects affecting our drinking water or air quality from the weaker regulatory procedures established by this legislation. This amendment will help ensure that Americans continue to have access to clean air and water.

My amendment also makes clear that, when a Federal construction project would condemn or infringe on the private property rights of any American, it could not sidestep the review process, as provided under this legislation.

Additionally, gutting the NEPA requirements under current law for construction projects could pose unique challenges for Indian country, which is why my amendment would continue the current NEPA process for construction projects that would impact health, safety, or tribal sovereignty of Native American tribes.

The RAPID Act, as currently drafted, fails to ensure meaningful tribal consultation on these types of projects.

Finally, my amendment ensures that we are prioritizing our investments effectively. There are too many Americans who continue to look for work, and my amendment would require that every construction project assess whether we will help long-term unemployed Americans, including veterans, get back to work.

This amendment is an opportunity for us to reduce unemployment and assist our veterans struggling to find civilian job opportunities.

The approval process should consider whether the project will utilize equipment and materials manufactured in the United States and whether it will result in the hiring of unemployed workers who are actively seeking work. We should always do our best to support American jobs and American products when spending taxpayer dollars.

I urge my colleagues to support this amendment, and I yield back the balance of my time.

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