Highway and Transportation Funding Act of 2014

Floor Speech

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Ms. FRANKEL of Florida. Thank you, Mr. Rahall.

Mr. Speaker, transportation moves our economy, and modern infrastructure is a path to jobs and prosperity. I will vote for this stopgap measure, but I want to echo the words of my colleagues on both sides of the aisle who have called for a long-term, sustainable fix of our highway trust fund so that the United States of America can compete in the world's market.

Mr. RAHALL. Mr. Speaker, in closing, much has been said today in dislike of this temporary fix, and I could not agree more. It is not my preference. We all want to address this in a long-term, robust manner. That is also the opinion of the Transportation Trades Department of the AFL-CIO, who say that further delay will only maintain the status quo in keeping workers off the job, undercutting long-term planning and hindering the country in advancing to a 21st century transportation system.

There are very similar views, like views, expressed by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce when they say in a letter to Members of Congress that, in the Chamber's view, the longer the pass, the easier it will be for Congress to kick the can down the road and avoid the tough question of how we will maintain Federal investment in highway public transportation and highway safety.

I hope we come back before next May and address this issue.

I yield back the balance of my time.

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