Concurrent Resolution on the Budget, Fiscal Year 2016
Floor Speech
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Mr. BOOKER. Mr. President, I hope to have the opportunity to speak
about amendments Nos. 720 and 722 later, but I would like to speak now
about No. 721, which is a freight rail amendment.
I am very happy to see the Presiding Officer, Senator Rubio, whom I
have worked with on other legislation. Having bipartisan work on
important critical issues is essential. I am happy to join with Senator
Fischer on this important amendment.
It focuses on the urgency to improve the movement of freight and
strengthen our competitiveness by investing in a comprehensive
multimodal national network that includes not just our major highways
but our rails, seaports, local roads, and intermodal facilities.
I am happy to see Senator Sanders, who has the courage to stand and
speak about the infrastructure deficit in our country and calls for
bold, fiscally sound investment. I want to make sure, as we move
forward, that freight planning and investment as seen by this amendment
is prioritized. Along with Senator Fischer, I support broadening our
approach to freight policy that would promote greater national
productivity. Why is this important? Hundreds of millions of tons of
freight are annually shipped through our ports, rails, and highway
networks.
The Great Corridor runs from my State of New Jersey to New York, to
Philadelphia, moving over $55 billion in goods each year, and is one of
the most significant chokepoints in the U.S. transportation network
that moves $17 trillion of goods between metropolitan areas each year.
The incredible freight network drives our economy, boosts economic
competitiveness, and creates jobs in America, thousands and thousands
of jobs. With a slight adjustment of our priorities and a strong
national commitment to investing in our infrastructure, we can
dramatically reduce congestion, improve the health of our American
communities and make sure goods get where they need to go faster,
cheaper, all while strengthening our economy and creating jobs.
I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this important
amendment and look forward to continuing to work on critical
transportation and infrastructure priorities.
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