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PEOPLE ARE JUST AS SKEPTICAL.
ANYBODY WHO COVERS THE
SUPREME COURT KNOWS IT IS PRETTY
WE WILL LEAVE THE LAST FEW
MINUTES OF THIS TO GO LIVE TO
THE UNITED STATES HOUSE.
PROVIDING FOR CONSIDERATION OF
THE RESOLUTION, HOUSE RESOLUTION
706.
AUTHORIZING THE COMMITTEE ON
OVERSIGHT AND GOVERNMENT REFORM
TO INITIATE OR INTERVENE IN
JUDICIAL PROCEEDINGS TO ENFORCE
CERTAIN SUBPOENAS.
REFERRED TO THE HOUSE CALENDAR
AND ORDERED PRINTED.
PURSUANT TO HOUSE RESOLUTION 697
AND RULE 18, THE CHAIR DECLARES
THE HOUSE IN THE COMMITTEE OF
THE WHOLE HOUSE ON THE STATE OF
THE UNION FOR FURTHER
CONSIDERATION OF H.R. 5972.
WILL THE GENTLEMAN FROM FLORIDA,
MR. WEST, KINDLY TAKE THE CHAIR.
THE HOUSE IS IN THE
COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE HOUSE ON
THE STATE OF THE UNION FOR THE
FURTHER CONSIDERATION OF H.R.
5972, WHICH THE CLERK WILL
REPORT BY TITLE.
A BILL MAKING
APPROPRIATIONS FOR THE
DEPARTMENTS OF TRANSPORTATION
AND HOUSING AND URBAN
DEVELOPMENT, AND RELATED
AGENCIES FOR THE FISCAL YEAR
ENDING SEPTEMBER 30, 2013, AND
FOR OTHER PURPOSES.
WHEN THE COMMITTEE OF
THE WHOLE HOUSE ROSE EARLIER
TODAY, AMENDMENT NUMBER 11
PRINTED IN THE CONGRESSIONAL
RECORD OFFERED BY THE GENTLEMAN
FROM CALIFORNIA, MR. MCCLINTOCK,
HAD BEEN DISPOSED OF AND THE
BILL HAD BEEN READ THROUGH PAGE
150, LINE 9.
FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE THE
GENTLEWOMAN FROM TENNESSEE RISE?
THANK YOU, MR.
CHAIRMAN.
I HAVE AN AMENDMENT AT THE DESK.
THE CLERK WILL REPORT
THE AMENDMENT.
AMENDMENT OFFERED BY
MRS. BLACKBURN OF TENNESSEE, AT
THE END OF THE BILL BEFORE THE
SHORT TITLE INSERT THE
FOLLOWING, SECTION, EACH AMOUNT
MADE AVAILABLE BY THIS ACT OTHER
THAN AN AMOUNT REQUIRED TO BE
MADE AVAILABLE BY A PROVISION OF
LAW IS HEREBY REDUCED BY 1%.
THE GENTLEWOMAN IS
RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES.
THANK YOU, MR.
CHAIRMAN.
I APPRECIATE THE RECOGNITION AND
I WANT TO BEGIN BY THANKING THE
COMMITTEE FOR THEIR
EXTRAORDINARILY HARD WORK IN
IDENTIFYING WAYS TO CUT
SPENDING.
ALL OF US HEAR FROM OUR
CONSTITUENTS, THEY WANT US TO
REDUCE WHAT THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT SPENDS.
TO BE WISE AND PROPER STEWARDS
OF THE FEDERAL TAXPAYERS'
DOLLAR.
ALL TOO OFTEN THEY LOOK AT
WASHINGTON AND THEY SEE A
MONUMENT TO WASTE OF THE
AMERICAN TAXPAYER DOLLAR.
NOW, FOR THE LEGISLATION THAT IS
IN FRONT OF US, FISCAL YEAR 2013
PROPOSED FUNDING SLELF $51.6
BILLION WHICH IS $1INGS 9
BILLION BELOW THE PRESIDENT'S --
$1.9 BILLION BELOW THE
PRESIDENT'S REQUEST.
I THINK IT IS ADMIRABLE WE HAVE
SAVED NEARLY $2 BILLION BELOW
THE PRESIDENT'S REQUEST,
HOWEVER, WE KNOW THAT THERE IS
MUCH MORE WORK THAT CAN BE DONE,
THAT SHOULD BE DONE, THAT MUST
BE DONE.
AND THEREFORE MY 1%
ACROSS-THE-BOARD SPENDING
REDUCTION AMENDMENT WILL SAVE
TAXPAYERS AN ADDITIONAL $516
MILLION.
THAT IS $516 MILLION THAT WILL
OUR CHILDREN AND OUR
GRANDCHILDREN WILL NOT HAVE TO
PAY BACK WITH INTEREST.
NOW, I'M FULLY AWARE OF THE
STRONG OPPOSITION THAT MANY
APPROPRIATORS HAVE FOR THESE
ACROSS-THE-BOARD SPENDING CUTS.
WHEN I HAVE OFFERED THESE CUTS,
I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT, AND I'M
QUOTING, THE CUTS OF THIS
MAGNITUDE, QUITE HONESTLY, GO
TOO DEEP.
I HAVE ALSO HEARD THAT THESE 1%
SPENDING REDUCTIONS WOULD BE,
AND I'M QUOTING, VERY DAMAGING
TO OUR NATIONAL SECURITY AND TO
THINGS THAT ARE IMPORTANT TO
LIFE AND PROPERTY.
HOWEVER THE TAXPAYERS ARE
DEMANDING THAT THE BUREAUCRACY
DO WHAT THEY ARE DOING AND SAVE
A PENNY ON A DOLLAR.
AND OUR GOVERNORS ARE QUITE
ACTIVE IN THIS ARENA.
OF COURSE WE HAVE HEARD FROM
FORMER GOVERNOR MITT ROMNEY,
GOVERNOR CHRIS KRISTI, GOVERNOR
RICK PERRY, GOVERNOR MITCH
DANIELS, GOVERNOR CHRIS TEEN,
JUST TO NAME A FEW OF OUR STATE
EXECUTIVES.
IN THE CHAIRMAN'S HOME STATE OF
IOWA, FORMER DEMOCRATIC GOVERNOR
CHET CODLER ISSUED A 10%
ACROSS-THE-BOARD SPENDING
REDUCTION.
THESE ACROSS-THE-BOARD SPENDING
CUTS ARE USED AROUND OUR COUNTRY
IN A BIPARTISAN FASHION AND THE
REASON THEY ARE IS BECAUSE THEY
WORK.
THEY WORK.
THIS IS HOW YOU GET RESULTS.
IN ACTUALLY CUTTING INTO THE
BASELINE AND REDUCING THE
OUTLAYS OF GOVERNMENT.
THEY ARE EFFECTIVE BECAUSE THEY
CUT SPENDING WITHIN EACH AGENCY.
AND FORCE EACH AGENCY TO DO A
REVIEW AND FIND THE WASTE AND
FIND WAYS TO PRESERVE THOSE
PRECIOUS DOLLARS THAT ARE COMING
FROM THE TAXPAYERS.
ADMIRAL MULLEN MADE A STATEMENT
THAT THE GREATEST RISK TO OUR
NATION'S SECURITY IS OUR
NATION'S DEBT.
MR. CHAIRMAN, WE ALL KNOW THAT.
THE AMERICAN PEOPLE KNOW THAT.
THEY HAVE GROWN ILL AND FATIGUED
WITH WHAT THEY SEE IS WASTE OF
THEIR MONEY.
IN WASHINGTON, BECAUSE THIS
GOVERNMENT NEVER SATISFIES ITS
APPETITE FOR THE TAXPAYERS'
DOLLAR, AND BECAUSE OF THAT,
BECAUSE THEY THINK THEY CAN GO
TO THE WELL AND ASK FOR MORE,
BECAUSE THEY THINK THEY CAN GO
TO THE PRESSES AND PRINT THOSE
DOLLARS, THEY DON'T DO THE HARD
WORK OF PRIORITIZING.
THAT IS WHAT WE ARE TO DO HERE
IN THIS HOUSE.
AND IN THAT SPIRIT OF FORCING
THE ACTIONS OF PRIORITIZING,
FORCING THE ACTIONS OF THE
BUREAUCRACY, HAVING TO SAVE ONE
PENNY ON A DOLLAR SO THAT OUR
CHILDREN AND GRANDCHILDREN ARE
NOT PAYING THAT BACK WITH
INTEREST, THAT IS THE REASON
THAT I BRING THESE AMENDMENTS.
YOU KNOW IT'S IMPORTANT BECAUSE
RIGHT NOW WE ARE BORROWING 40
SPEND.
WE CANNOT AFFORD THIS.
IT IS INCUMBENT UPON US TO MAKE
CERTAIN THAT WE DO THE HARD
WORK, THAT WE CUT A LITTLE MORE,
THAT WE MAKE THE DEMANDS ON THE
BUREAUCRACY THAT OUR
CONSTITUENTS ARE MAKING ON THEIR
BUSINESSES AND ON THEIR FAMILY
BUDGETS.
IT IS TIME FOR US TO SAVE JUST A
PENNY ON THE DOLLAR, MAKE THE
CUT, DO IT FOR OUR CHILDREN AND
FUTURE GENERATIONS.
WITH THAT I YIELD THE BALANCE OF
MY TIME.
THE GENTLEWOMAN YIELD
BACK THE BALANCE OF HER TIME.
GENTLEMAN FROM MASSACHUSETTS
RISE?
I SEEK THE TIME IN
OPPOSITION TO THE AMENDMENT.
THE GENTLEMAN IS
RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES.
THANK YOU, MR.
CHAIRMAN.
MR. CHAIRMAN, I STRONGLY OPPOSE
THIS AMENDMENT.
THIS AMENDMENT INDISCRIMINATELY
IN TRANSPORTATION
AND HOUSING WITHOUT ANY THOUGHT
TO THE RELATIVE MERITS OF THE
PROGRAMS CONTAINED IN THIS BILL.
FOR INSTANCE, THEY WOULD RESULT
IN FEWER AIR TRAFFIC
CONTROLLERS, FEW PIPELINE SAFETY
INSPECTORS, ENSURING ACCIDENTS
DO NOT OCCUR, FEWER VOUCHERS FOR
HOMELESS VETERANS.
REDUCE SALARIES AND EXPENSES
ACCOUNTS FOR ALL OF THE
DEPARTMENTS.
IN ALL AREAS WHERE THERE ARE --
IN SOME OF THE AREAS, SOME OF
THE AGENCIES, SALARIES AND
EXPENSES IS ALMOST EVERYTHING IN
THE AGENCY.
DO THE SAME THING FOR ALL THE
CAPITAL ACCOUNTS, THE
CONSTRUCTION ACCOUNTS, AND
BASICALLY THIS IS AN
INFRASTRUCTURE BILL THAT DOES A
CAPITAL EXPENDITURES.
ALL OF THIS WOULD BE DONE ACROSS
THE BOARD.
MORE GENERALLY INVESTMENTS IN
OUR TRANSPORTATION AND HOUSING
INFRASTRUCTURE WILL BE REDUCED
LOST.
THERE WILL BE FROM THE AMENDMENT
ITSELF THERE WILL BE PUBLIC JOB
LOSS, ALSO THERE WILL BE JOBS
LOST BECAUSE OF THE LOSS IN
INFRASTRUCTURE WHICH IS
IMPORTANT TO THIS COUNTRY.
AND REALLY CRITICAL.
I WANT TO POINT OUT THAT THE
SPONSOR OF THIS LEGISLATION IS
AGAIN RENEGING ON HER WORD.
SHE VOTED FOR LAST SUMMER'S
BUDGET CONTROL ACT THAT SET THIS
YEAR'S SPENDING LIMITS.
THE RYAN BUDGET BROKE THAT
AGREEMENT AND LOWERED SPENDING
LEVELS, SPONSOR OF THIS
AMENDMENT BREAKS THE AGREEMENT
AGAIN BY REDUCING DISCRETIONARY
FUNDING EVEN FURTHER.
I STRONGLY URGE MEMBERS TO
OPPOSE THIS AMENDMENT.
I YIELD BACK MY TIME.
THE GENTLEMAN YIELDS
BACK THE BALANCE OF HIS TIME.
FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE
GENTLEMAN FROM IOWA RISE?
MOVE TO STRIKE THE
LAST WORD.
THE GENTLEMAN IS
RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES.
I THANK THE
CHAIRMAN.
I COMMEND THE THE GENTLEWOMAN
FROM TENNESSEE FOR PERSIST TENSE
AND -- PERSISTENCE AND ALL OF
HER WORK AS FAR AS TRYING TO GET
A HANDLE ON THE SPENDING.
I'D JUST LIKE TO MAKE A COUPLE
POINTS.
SHE MENTIONED THE WORD $2
BILLION BELOW THE PRESIDENT'S
REQUEST.
WE ARE ACTUALLY $4 BILLION,
ALMOST $4 BILLION BELOW LAST
YEAR'S SPENDING IN THIS BILL.
WE HAVE THE LARGEST DECREASE
PERCENTAGEWISE THAN ANY OF THE
APPROPRIATION BILLS.
AND WE HAVE WORKED VERY, VERY
HARD TO CRAFT A BILL THAT
ACTUALLY ENACTED THAT TYPE OF
SPENDING CUTS, BUT ALSO FUNDED
THE HIGH PRIORITY ITEMS THAT ARE
IN THIS BILL.
AND IT'S WITH RELUCTANCE I
OPPOSE HER AMOUNT AMENDMENT.
JUST SAY WE ARE --
AMENDMENT.
I'LL JUST SAY WE ARE WITHIN THE
30 -B ALLOCATIONS THAT WERE IN
THE RYAN BUDGET.
THAT WAS THE DEBATE THEN AS TO
WHAT FUNDING LEVELS TO BE AT.
THERE ARE SOME VERY IMPORTANT
INFRASTRUCTURE ISSUES THAT WOULD
BE HARMED BY THIS WHEN WE LOOK
AT THE HIGHWAY TRUST FUND,
FUNDING THAT WOULD BE CUT,
TRANSIT PROGRAMS, VETERANS,
HOMELESS VOUCHERS, WE HAVE DONE
EVERYTHING WE COULD TO TRY TO
HAVE A BALANCED BILL THAT
ACTUALLY PUT PRIORITIES AFTER
HAVING MANY HEARINGS, WORKING
THROUGH THIS BILL ON A LINE BY
LINE BASIS.
I'M NOT SURE THAT JUST A
ACROSS-THE-BOARD CUT THAT CUTS
EVERYTHING ARBITRARILY IS THE
WAY TO GO.
I WOULD CERTAINLY WE ARE ALL
VERY, VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THE
BUDGET, BUT I WOULD JUST WITH
RELUCTANCE JUST OPPOSE THIS
AMENDMENT AND IF THE GENTLELADY
WOULD -- I WOULD BE GLAD TO
YIELD SOME TIME TO THE
GENTLELADY.
I THANK THE
CHAIRMAN FOR YIELDING.
AS I SAID AT THE BEGINNING I
APPLAUD THE COMMITTEE FOR THE
GOOD WORK THEY HAVE DONE.
I THINK WHEN YOU ARE BROKE,
THOUGH, THAT WHAT WE HAVE TO DO
IS SAY NOW IS THE TIME TO MAKE
FURTHER CUTS.
TO THE RANKING MEMBER, IT'S NOT
INDISCRIMINATE, THIS IS THE WAY
OUR GOVERNORS HAVE FOUND TO
ARRIVE AT BALANCING A BUDGET.
IS LOOKING AT EVERY AGENCY AND
SAY GET IN THERE, DO THE HEAVY
LIFT, AND FIND THIS.
AND THE RESULT WE WANT IS TO
PRESERVE THE FOUNDATION OF THIS
GREAT NATION FOR OUR CHILDREN
AND GRANDCHILDREN.
ARE YOU SAYING THAT SALARIES AND
EXPENSES ARE MORE IMPORTANT THAN
THE FUTURE OF THESE CHILDREN WHO
ARE GOING TO HAVE TO PAY THIS
DEBT BACK WITH INTEREST?
$16 TRILLION WORTH OF DEBT AND
GROWING.
AND YOU GOT TO PAY IT BACK.
MY TWO GRANDCHILDREN, MY
CHILDREN, IS IT FAIR TO LOOK AT
YOU'RE GOING TO
SPEND OVER HALF OF WHAT YOU
EARN?
I KNOW THAT IT IS TOUGH.
AS THE GENTLEMAN INFERRED, I'M
AT IT AGAIN.
YES, YOU'RE RIGHT, MR. CHAIRMAN.
I AM AT IT AGAIN.
LET ME TELL YOU SOMETHING, I'M
GOING TO BE AT IT AGAIN AND
AGAIN AND AGAIN, JUST AS I HAVE
EVERY SINGLE YEAR THAT I HAVE
BEEN A MEMBER OF THIS HOUSE
BECAUSE PRESERVING THE FIRM
FINANCIAL FOOTING OF THIS NATION
IS WORTH COMING AT IT AGAIN AND
JOB DONE.
IT HAS WORKED FOR OUR CITY, IT
HAS WORKED FOR OUR COUNTIES, IT
HAS WORKED FOR OUR STATES, IT
WILL WORK FOR THIS NATION THAT
IS SO RICHLY BLESSED.
WE NEED TO HAVE TITANIUM BACK
BONES TO GET THE JOB DONE.
CHAIRMAN.
BACK.
THE QUESTION IS ON THE
AMENDMENT OFFERED BY THE
GENTLEWOMAN FROM TENNESSEE.
THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
THOSE OPPOSED, NO.
IN THE OPINION OF THE CHAIR,
THE NOES HAVE IT.
MR. MR.
CHAIRMAN -- MR. CHAIRMAN, I ASK
FOR A RECORDED VOTE.
THE AMENDMENT WAS
NOT AGREED TO.
PURSUANT TO CLAUSE 6 OF RULE
18, FURTHER PROCEEDINGS ON THE
AMENDMENT OFFERED BY THE
GENTLEWOMAN FROM TENNESSEE WILL
BE POSTPONED.
FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE
GENTLEMAN FROM CALIFORNIA RISE?
MR. CHAIRMAN, I HAVE AN
AMENDMENT AT THE DESK.
THE CLERK WILL
DESIGNATE THE AMENDMENT.
AMENDMENT NUMBER 13,
PRINTED IN THE CONGRESSIONAL
RECORD, OFFERED BY MR.
MCCLINTOCK OF CALIFORNIA.
THE GENTLEMAN IS
RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINS.
THANK YOU, MR.
CHAIRMAN.
THIS FOR BIDS FURTHER FEDERAL
EXPENDITURES FOR THE CENTRAL
SUBWAY PROJECT IN SAN
FRANCISCO.
A 1.7 MILE
SUBWAY THAT'S ESTIMATED TO COST
$1.6 BILLION.
AND THESE COST ESTIMATES
CONTINUE TO RISE.
ITS BASELINE BUDGET HAS MORE
THAN DOUBLED IN NINE YEARS AND
SHOWS NO SIGN OF SLOWING.
THE CURRENT ESTIMATE BRINGS THE
COST TO NEARLY $1 BILLION PER
MILE.
THAT'S ABOUT FIVE TIMES THE
COST PER LANE MILE OF BOSTON'S
SCANDALOUS BIG DIG.
IT WAS SPOWED TO LINK LOCAL
LIGHT RAIL AND BUS LINES WITH
CAL TRAIN AND BAY AREA RAPID
TRANSIT BUT IT'S SO BADLY
DESIGNED THAT IT BYPASSES 25 OF
THE 30 LIGHT RAIL AND BUS LINES
IT CROSSES.
TO ADD INSULT TO INSANITY, IT
DISMANTLES THE SEAMLESS LIGHT
RAIL TO BART CONNECTION
CURRENTLY AVAILABLE TO
PASSENGERS AVAILABLE AT MARKET
STREET, REQUIRING THEM TO WORK
NEARLY A QUARTER MILE TO MAKE
THE NEW CONNECTION.
EXPERTS ESTIMATE IT WILL COST
COMMUTERS BETWEEN FIVE AND 10
MINUTES OF ADDITIONAL COMMUTING
TIME ON EVERY SEGMENT OF THE
ROUTE.
"THE WALL STREET JOURNAL" CALLS
IT, QUOTE, A CASE STUDY IN
GOVERNMENT INCOMPETENCE AND
WASTED TAXPAYER MONEY.
AND THEY'RE NOT ALONE.
THE CIVIL GRAND JURY IN SAN
FRANCISCO HAS VIGOROUSLY
RECOMMENDED THE PROJECT BE
SCRAPPED, WARNING THAT
MAINTENANCE COSTS ALONE COULD
ULTIMATELY BANKRUPT SAN
FRANCISCO'S MUNI.
THE FORMER CHAIRMAN OF THE SAN
FRANCISCO TRANSPORTATION AGENCY
HAS CALLED IT, QUOTE, ONE OF
THE COSTLIEST MISTAKES IN THE
CITY'S HISTORY.
EVEN THE SPONSORS ESTIMATE THAT
IT WILL INCREASE RIDERSHIP
BYLESS THAN 1% AND THERE'S
VIGOROUS DEBATE THAT THIS
PROJECT IS FAR TOO OPTIMISTIC.
I THINK MARGARET OKIZUMI, THE
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE BAY
RILL ALLIANCE, PUT IT BEST WHEN
SHE SAID, QUOTE, TOO MANY TIMES
WE'VE SEEN MONEY FOR PUBLIC
TRANSIT USED TO PRIMARILY
BENEFIT PEOPLE WHO WOULD PROFIT
FINANCIALLY WHILE MAKING
TRANSIT LESS CONVENIENT FOR
ACTUAL TRANSIT RIDERS.
VOTERS APPROVE MONEY FOR
TRANSIT BECAUSE THEY WANT
TRANSIT TO BE MORE AVAILABLE.
IT WOULD BE TRAGIC IF BILLIONS
WERE SPENT ON SOMETHING THAT
MADE IT UNABLE TO SUSTAIN ITS
OVERALL TRANSIT SERVICE, END
QUOTE.
MR. CHAIRMAN THIS
ADMINISTRATION IS ATTEMPTING TO
PUT FEDERAL TAXPAYERS, OUR
CONSTITUENTS OR THEN HOOK FOR
NEARLY $1 BILLION OF THE COST
OF THIS FOLLY THROUGH NEW START
PROGRAM, MORE THAN 60% OF THE
ENTIRE PROJECT.
WE HAVE ALREADY SQUANDERED $123
MILLION ON IT WE DON'T HAVE.
THIS AMENDMENT FOREBIDS ANOTHER
DIME OF OUR CONSTITUENTS' MONEY
BEING WASTED ON THIS
BOONDOGGLE.
WONDERING, WHY SHOULD YOUR
CONSTITUENTS PAY NEARLY $1
BILLION FOR A PURELY LOCAL
TRANSPORTATION PROJECT IN SAN
FRANCISCO THAT IS OPPOSED BY A
BROAD, BIPARTISAN COALITION OF
SAN FRANCISCOIANS INCLUDING THE
SIERRA CLUB, SAVE MUNII, A
GRASS ROOTSING ORNY SARGSE OF
MUNI RIDERS, THE COALITION OF
SAN FRANCISCO NEIGHBORHOODS AND
THREE OF THE FOUR LOCAL
NEWSPAPERS SERVING SAN
FRANCISCO.
WHY INDEED?
EXCUSE ME, I DON'T HAVE AN
ANSWER TO THAT QUESTION.
BUT THOSE WHO VOTE AGAINST THIS
AMENDMENT HAD BETTER HAVE ONE
WHEN THEIR CONSTITUENTS ASK
WHAT IN THE WORLD WERE YOU
THINKING?
I YIELD BACK.
THE GENTLEMAN YIELDS
BACK HIS TIME.
FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE
GENTLEMAN FROM MASSACHUSETTS
RISE?
I CLAIM TIME IN
OPPOSITION TO THE AMENDMENT.
THE GENTLEMAN IS
RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES.
MR. CHAIRMAN, FROM
THE LOOKS OF IT, THE GENTLEMAN
FROM CALIFORNIA HAS QUITE A
FIGHT GOING ON WITH SIERRA
CLUB, THREE OF THE FOUR MAJOR
NEWSPAPERS, I DON'T KNOW WHICH
ONES THEY ARE, EXACTLY, I
DEPARTMENT KNOW THERE WERE
THREE OR FOUR MAJOR NEWSPAPERS
MOST PLACES THESE DAYS, IF THEY
WELL.
AND WITH THE STATE LEGISLATURE
IN CALIFORNIA AS WELL.
I STRONGLY OPPOSE THIS
AMENDMENT AND FRANKLY I'M
REPRESENTS.
THIS PROJECT, I THINK, IS THE
PERFECT -- IS A PERFECT, MAYBE
NOT PERFECT, VERY GOOD EXAMPLE
OF THE TYPES OF INFRASTRUCTURE
PROJECTS OUR URBAN -- OUR MAJOR
URBAN AREAS NEED TO REMAIN
ECONOMICALLY STRONG, PROVIDE
JOB CREATION, NOW AND CRITICAL
ACCESS TO JOBS IN THE FUTURE.
IN PARTICULAR IN CALIFORNIA,
SIX OF THE 50 LARGEST
METROPOLITAN AREAS IN THIS
COUNTRY EXIST IN THE -- THOSE
WITH OVER A MILLION POPULATION,
EXIST IN THE STATE OF
CALIFORNIA.
CALIFORNIA ALSO HAPPENS TO HAVE
FIVE ADECISIONAL ONES WHICH
HAVE FIVE -- WHICH HAVE 500,000
TO ONE MILLION IN POPULATION.
SEVEN OF THOSE 11 ARE GROWING
BY AS MUCH AS 25%.
BY MORE THAN 25% PER YEAR.
ACTUALLY.
AND THESE ARE EXACTLY THE SORT
OF PLACES ALL OF THEM ARE THE
SORT OF PLACES THAT NEED
INVESTMENT AND CONTINUED
INVESTMENT, CONTINUED
ASSISTANCE FROM THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT.
THEY'RE PUTTING A SERIOUS AND
MAJOR AMOUNT OF MONEY, OUR
AUTHORIZATION PLANS WHICH WE
EXTEND AND OUR ARE STILL UNDER
EXTENSION AND HOPE, I THINK
MOST PEOPLE HERE HOPE AND
UNDERSTAND THAT WE NEED TO HAVE
A RE-AUTHORIZATION SOMETIME
WITHIN THE NEXT FEW DAYS,
PROBABLY, THAT THE PROGRAM IN
CALIFORNIA IS ONE THAT'S FULL
HI AUTHORIZED AND READY TO GO.
POPULATION DENSITY IN THE AREA
THAT IS INVOLVED IN THIS
PARTICULAR PROGRAM IS OVER
50,000 PEOPLE PER SQUARE MILE.
ULTIMATELY THE PROJECT WILL TIE
TOGETHER ONE OF THE FASTEST
GROWING SECTIONS OF SAN
FRANCISCO WITH ONE OF THE
DENSEST NEIGHBORHOODS IN THE
NATION.
AND PROVIDE KEY REGIONAL
CONNECTIONS WITH COMMUTER RULE
AND FUTURE HIGH SPEED RAIL
PROGRAMS.
THE PROJECT HAS BEEN THOROUGHLY
REVIEWED BY THE F.T.A., THE
STATE OF CALIFORNIA, LOCAL
AUTHORITIES DETERMINED THAT IT
WAS OF HIGH VALUE.
IN ADDITION THE CHAIRMAN
INCLUDED $100 MILLION IN THE
UNDERLYING BILL AS AN
ACKNOWLEDGMENT THAT THIS
PROJECT IS MOVING AND WILL
IMPROVE TRANSPORTATION AND
CREATE CONSTRUCTION JOBS IN THE
BAY AREA.
THE BAY AREA NEEDS CONSTRUCTION
JOBS AS WELL AS WE NEED
CONSTRUCTION JOBS IN EVERY PART
OF THIS NATION.
IN ORDER TO HAVE A ROBUST
ECONOMY.
NOW, I HAVE A PRESS RELEASE
WHICH ARRIVED TODAY JUST TO ADD
TO THE GAME, THE CALIFORNIA
TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION,
UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED COMMITMENT
OF $61 MILLION IN STATE HIGH
SPEED RAIL CONNECTIVITY FUNDS
TO THE CENTRAL SOUTH SUBWAY
PROJECT.
THIS VERY PROJECT THIS VERY
DAY.
I ALSO HAVE HERE WITH ME THE
EDITORIAL FROM THE SAN
FRANCISCO EXAMINER, I'M NOT
SURE WHETHER THAT'S ONE OF YOUR
MAJOR NEWSPAPERS IN THE AREA OR
NOT BUT IN SUPPORT OF THIS
PROGRAM.
I OFFER IT AND ASK UNANIMOUS
CONCEPT THAT IT BE PRINTED IN
THE RECORD.
THE REQUEST IS
COVERED BY GENERAL LEAVE.
THANK YOU, MR.
CHAIRMAN FOR THAT AND SO I WILL
SUBMIT IT FOR THE RECORD.
I UNDERSTAND THAT THE SPONSOR
MIGHT NOT SUPPORT PUBLIC
TRANSPORTATION.
BUT WHEN THE SINGLES OUT ONE --
BUT WHEN HE SINGLES OUT ONE
PROJECT IT'S HARD TO WONDER IF
HIS OPPOSITION IS BASED ON SOME
KIND OF INTERNAL POLITICS AND
NOT ON SOUBD POLICY.
I OPPOSE THIS AMENDMENT AND I
YIELD BACK THE BALANCE OF MY
TIME.
THE GENTLEMAN YIELDS
BACK THE BALANCE OF HIS TIME.
THE QUESTION IS ON THE
AMENDMENT OFFERED BY THE
GENTLEMAN FROM CALIFORNIA.
THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
THOSE OPPOSED, NO.
IN THE OPINION OF THE CHAIR,
THE AYES HAVE IT.
THE AMENDMENT IS AGREED TO.
AND NAYS.
PURSUANT TO CLAUSE 6
OF RULE 18, FURTHER PROCEEDINGS
ON THE AMENDMENT OF THE
GENTLEMAN FROM CALIFORNIA WILL
BE POSTPONED.
FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE
GENTLEMAN FROM MINNESOTA RISE?
MR. CHAIRMAN, I HAVE AN
AMENDMENT AT THE DESKFUL
THE CLERK WILL
REPORT THE AMENDMENT.
WILL THE GENTLEMAN SPECIFY
WHICH AMENDMENT?
TO 5972
AND NUMBER 69.
CLERK WILL REPORT
THE AMENDMENT.
AMENDMENT OFFERED BY
MR. CRAVAACK OF MINNESOTA.
AT THE END OF THE -- INSERT THE
FOLLOWING, NONE OF THE FUNDS IN
THIS ACT MAY BE USED BY THE
SECRETARY OF TRANSPORTATION TO
RESERGE OR IMPLEMENT A
DISTANCE-BASED FEE SYSTEM,
COMMONLY REFERRED TO AS MILES
TRAVELED, TO LEVY A FEE ON THE
VEHICLE USER BASED ON THE
DISTANCE TRAVELED.
THE GENTLEMAN IS
RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES.
CHAIRMAN.
I RISE TO SUPPORT MY AMENDMENT
WHICH WOULD PROHIBIT THE
UTILIZATION OF FUNDS TO
RESEARCH OR IMPLEMENT A FEE PER
MILE SYSTEM.
IT WOULD LEVY A FEE BASED ON
THE DISTANCE TRAVELED.
MR. SPEAKER, IT IS NO SECRET
THAT OUR CURRENT HIGHWAY TRUST
FUND SYSTEM IS GOING BANKRUPT.
THE FEDERAL GAS TAX DESIGNED TO
SUPPORT THE FUND FINDS ITSELF
INCREASINGLY UNABLE TO PAY FOR
BETTER ROADS, BRIDGES AND RAIL
DUE TO SEVERAL FACTORS.
PEOPLE ARE DRIVING LESS DUE TO
PRICES.
THE CREATION OF MORE FUEL
EFFICIENT CARS ALLOW PEOPLE TO
PUMP.
AND LET'S NOT FORGET HOW
CONGRESS HAS BEEN RAIDING THE
GAS TAX PROCEEDS FOR DECADES TO
FUND ALTERNATIVE TRANSPORTATION
ACTIVITIES THAT IN NO WAY HELP
MAINTAIN THE BRIDGES OR ROADS
WE DRIVE, SUCH AS BUILDING BIKE
PATHS AND PLANTING NOWERS.
THERE'S AN IMPORTANT NEED TO
COME UP WITH A NEW, BETTER IDEA
ON HOW TO APPROPRIATELY FUND
OUR HIGHWAY TRUST FUND SYSTEM.
HOWEVER, I AM HERE TO TELL YOU
TODAY THAT THE CONCEPT OF USING
VEHICLE MILES TRAVELED FEE
SYSTEM IS NOT ONE OF THOSE
BETTER IDEAS.
REQUIRING PEOPLE TO PAY FOR THE
MILES THEY TRAVEL EACH YEAR IS
NOT ACCEPTABLE ON A NUMBER OF
THE V.M.T. TAX WOULD BE
EXPENSIVE TO IMPLEMENT BECAUSE
EVERY CAR WOULD NEED TO BE
FITTED WITH A DEVICE TO RECORD
THE MILES DRIVEN AND TRANSMIT
THAT TO THE GOVERNMENT
DATABASE.
IT WOULD COST MILLIONS TO D
INSTALL THEM IN NEW VEHICLES
AND MANY MILLIONS MORE IF OLDER
VEEGS AND MOTORCYCLES ARE
EXPECTED TO BE RETROFITTED WITH
THESE DEVICES.
THE COST REQUIRED TO
ADMINISTRATION THIS IS
INEFFICIENT.
ESPECIALLY COMPARED TO THE GAS
TAX WHICH PROCEEDS IN AN
INEFFICIENT FORM OF TAX CASE
THAT IS COLLECTED FROM
REFINERIES.
FURTHER, THE ELECTRONIC
TRACKING DEVICE POSES A
SIGNIFICANT PRIVACY CONCERN.
AND A SEE REAR THREAT TO OUR
PRIVATE INFORMATION SHOULD ANY
ONE OF THESE SYSTEMS BE HACKED
OR CORRUPTED.
THE POTENTIAL FOR PRIVACY
ABUSES IS A HAZARD WAITING TO
HAPPEN.
GOVERNMENT DATABASES HAVE
ALREADY BEEN COMPROMISED IN THE
PAST AND THIS GOVERNMENT SYSTEM
WOULD BE NO EXCEPTION.
FINALLY, THE V.M.T. TAX WOULD
A REGRESSIVE TAX, THAT
WOULD HIT CONSTITUENTS IN RURAL
DISTRICTS LIKE MINNESOTA'S
EIGHTH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT,
THE DISTRICT THAT I REPRESENT.
HARDER THAN ANY OTHERS.
MY SKIT CONSTITUENTS OFTEN HAVE
TO DRIVE MILES MORE THAN URBAN
COUNTERPARTS TO PERFORM THE
SAME DAILY TASKS LIKE GOING TO
WORK, GROCERY SHOPPING,
DROPPING THE KIDS OFF AT COOL
AND MAKING DELIVERIES FOR THEIR
SMALL BUSINESSES.
MY CONSTITUENTS ARE ALREADY
STRUGGLING TO MAKE ENDS MEET
WITH THE CURRENT GAS PRICES.
PENALIZING THEM FOR NOTHING
MORE THAN LIVING IN A RURAL
EDGE.
IN SUM, THE V.M.T. TAX WOULD
PRODUCE A STONGLY NEGATIVE
REACTION FROM THE PUBLIC AND
FOR GOOD REASON.
AMERICANS DON'T LIKE PAYING FOR
THE GAS TAX AND THEY ARE SURE
GOING TO BE EVEN MORE UNHAPPY
ABOUT HAVING TO DEAL WITH AN
ADMINISTRATIVE AND PRIVACY
NIGHTMARE THAT V.M.T. PROMISES.
THEREFORE, I URGE MY COLLEAGUES
TO JOIN ME IN SUPPORT OF MY
AMENDMENT WHICH WOULD PREVENT
THE SECRETARY OF TRANSPORTATION
FROM USING FUNDS TO RESEARCH OR
IMPLEMENT THIS HAMPLEFUL FEE.
THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER, I YIELD
BACK THE BALANCE OF MY TIME.
THE GENTLEMAN YIELDS
BACK THE BALANCE OF HIS TIME.
FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE
GENTLEMAN FROM IOWA RISE?
WORD.
RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES.
I THANK THE
CHAIRMAN.
I WOULD LIKE TO JOIN WITH THE
GENTLEMAN HERE IN SUPPORT OF
THIS AMENDMENT.
I THINK -- A COUPLE POINTS.
IF HE REPRESENTS A RURAL
DISTRICT, THIS IS AN ENORMOUS
ISSUE.
OFTENTIMES ON AVERAGE JOBS WILL
PAY LESS THAN -- IN URBAN AREAS
TO BEGIN WITH, ON AVERAGE A LOT
OF THESE FOLKS HAVE TO DRIVE
WE GOT PEOPLE IN MY DISTRICT
TODAY THAT DRIVE 50 AND 60 MILES
ONE WAY TO THEIR JOB EVERY DAY.
AND THIS WOULD BE AN ENORMOUS
HARDSHIP ON THESE FOLKS.
I WOULD ALSO ADD THAT THE
SECRETARY OF TRANSPORTATION AND
THE ADMINISTRATION TWO YEARS AGO
WHEN WE WERE TRYING TO GET A
HIGHWAY BILL DONE, THAT THE
TABLE.
THIS.
AND SO I DON'T SEE WHY THE
SECRETARY WOULD NEED TO DO
RESEARCH OR ANY KIND OF MEANS OF
IMPLEMENTATION IF IN FACT THEY
SO STRONGLY OPPOSE THIS TYPE OF
TAXATION.
FOR SEVERAL DIFFERENT REASONS I
COMMEND THE GENTLEMAN ON THIS
AMENDMENT AND RISE IN SUPPORT.
TIME.
THE GENTLEMAN YIELDS
BACK THE BALANCE OF HIS TIME.
FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE
RISE?
I CLAIM THE TIME IN
OPPOSITION TO THE AMENDMENT.
THE GENTLEMAN IS
RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH,
MR. CHAIRMAN.
THIS AMENDMENT.
STRONGLY, BUT NOT BECAUSE I LIKE
A V.M.T. PARTICULARLY, AND NOT
THAT I DO NOT UNDERSTAND THAT IN
RURAL AREAS THIS CAN BE VERY
BURDENSOME.
HOWEVER, WE HAVE TO HAVE
ADDITIONAL ROAF NEW -- REVENUE.
THE REASON OUR INFRASTRUCTURE IS
IN DECLINE IS SIMPLE.
WE ARE SIMPLY NOT RAISING ENOUGH
REVENUE, TO FUND OUR
INFRASTRUCTURE NEEDS.
YET WE HAVE REPORT AFTER REPORT
FROM THE AMERICAN SOCIETY OF
CIVIL ENGINEERS, INFRASTRUCTURE
REPORTED CARD, GIVES US A D,
ESTIMATING THAT MORE THAN $2
TRILLION IN INVESTMENT IS NEEDED
IN OUR SYSTEM.
MUCH OF IT GAS OF AT LEAST $27
BILLION EACH YEAR FROM THE
D.O.T.'S OWN MOST RECENT
CONDITIONS AND PERFORMANCE
REPORT, THAT THERE IS A $27
BILLION PER YEAR GAP JUST TO
MAINTAIN CURRENT SYSTEM OF THE
HIGHWAYS AND BRIDGES IN THE
STATE OF GOOD REPAIR.
THE GAS TAX HAS NOT BEEN RAISED
SINCE 1993.
THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF REVENUE THAT
HAS BEEN RAISED 10 YEARS AGO WAS
ONLY A COUPLE BILLION DOLLARS
LOWER THAN IT IS NOW, 10, 11
YEARS LATER.
WE KNOW THAT THE VEHICLES THAT
ARE BEING PRODUCED NOW
CORRECTLY, AND WE MUST DO THIS,
ARE MORE EFFICIENT THAN THEY
WERE EARLIER AND SO GASOLINE TAX
DOESN'T BRING IN AS MUCH MONEY.
THAT'S FINE, BUT YOU STILL HAVE
TO HAVE THE REVENUE TO BUILD A
TRANSPORTATION INFRASTRUCTURE
PROGRAM THAT IS GOING TO BE GOOD
THAT WILL KEEP THE ECONOMY OF
STRONG.
EVERY GOOD AND EVERY PRODUCT OF
THIS COUNTRY HAS TO MOVE ALONG
AN EFFICIENT TRANSPORTATION
SYSTEM COVERING ALL OF OUR MODES
OF TRANSPORTATION, AND HAS TO BE
KEPT UP TO GOOD REPAIR AND FOR
THE MAJOR POPULATION GROWTH,
WHICH CONTINUES AT 10% EVERY
DECADE, WITH ALL THESE MAJOR
METROPOLITAN AREAS GOING UP AND
UP AND UP IN POPULATION, YOU
HAVE TO HAVE A LOT OF NEW
INFRASTRUCTURE BILLS AND YOU
HAVE TO MAINTAIN THE OLD
INFRASTRUCTURE AND THE OLDER
COMMUNITIES, OR EVERYBODY'S
GOING TO BE BEHIND.
EVEN THE RURAL AREAS.
THE RURAL AREAS, EVEN THOUGH
MANY OF THEM -- THE GENTLEMAN'S
PART OF THE COUNTRY THERE ARE
STATES WHERE MORE THAN HALF,
SEVERAL STATES, AT LEAST 10
STATES THAT HAVE MORE THAN HALF
OF ALL THEIR COUNTY LOSING
POPULATION, BUT TO ALLOW THE
INFRASTRUCTURE THE HIGHWAY
SYSTEM TO FALL APART IN THOSE
PLACES MEANS YOU DOOM THOSE
AREAS TO AN ECONOMIC FUTURE
WHICH IS GOING TO BE VERY BLEAK,
SO THE AMENDMENT IS -- IT'S
UNFORTUNATE BECAUSE WE ARE
PROBABLY GOING TO HAVE TO USE
DIFFERENT KINDS OF MONEY RAISING
MECHANISMS AND DIFFERENT PARTS
OF THE COUNTRY.
AND THIS ONE MAKES IT EVEN NOT
POSSIBLE FOR THE ADMINISTRATION
TO THINK ABOUT USING THE VEHICLE
MILES EVEN IN THE URBAN, IN THE
MAJOR URBAN AREAS, OF THE
COUNTRY.
IN ANY CASE, I OPPOSE THE
I KNOW QUITE WELL WHAT THE
RESULT OF MY OPPOSITION IS GOING
TO BE, BUT I THINK WE HAVE TO
HAVE ULTIMATELY, WE HAVE TO
SOMEHOW GAIN THE COURAGE AND THE
WILL TO RAISE THE REVENUE THAT
IS NECESSARY IN ORDER TO KEEP
OUR ECONOMY STRONG.
THE TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM IN ITS
TOTALITY REPRESENTS CLOSE TO 25%
OF THE WHOLE ECONOMY IN THIS
COUNTRY.
AND YOU CANNOT HAVE A VIABLE,
ROBUST ECONOMY WITH THE JOBS
THAT WE NEED IF WE DO NOT FIGURE
OUT HOW TO DO WHAT'S NEEDED
UNTIL ALL PARTS OF THE COUNTRY.
I YIELD.
GOOD FRIEND FROM MASSACHUSETTS
WAS TALKING ABOUT.
I THINK YOU CLEARLY REMEMBERED
THE TESTIMONY FROM SECRETARY
THE GENTLEMAN'S TIME
THE GENTLEMAN'S TIME HAS
EXPIRED.
FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE
GENTLEMAN FROM VIRGINIA RISE?
WORD.
THE GENTLEMAN IS
RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES.
I YIELD TO THE CHAIR.
GENTLEMAN VERY MUCH.
I JUST WANT TO TALK WITH THE
CHAIRMAN ABOUT THE SUBJECT
MATTER THAT THE GENTLEMAN FROM
MASSACHUSETTS BROUGHT THAT THE
SECRETARY OF TRANSPORTATION CAME
BEFORE THE SUBCOMMITTEE.
WE ARE TALKING ABOUT THE
DIFFICULTY WE ARE HAVING AS FAR
AS TRYING TO WRITE AN
APPROPRIATION BILL WITH NO NEW
AUTHORIZATION.
THE SECRETARY ON SEVERAL
DIFFERENT OCCASIONS SAID THAT HE
WOULD NOT ENTERTAIN AND THEY
STRONGLY OPPOSE BOTH AN
INCREASE IN THE GAS TAX AND
VEHICLE MILES DRIVEN.
AND THE GENTLEMAN I'M SURE FROM
MASSACHUSETTS REMEMBERS THAT
TESTIMONY VERY CLEARLY.
SO I WOULD JUST SUGGEST THAT
MAYBE SOMEONE SHOULD TALK TO THE
ADMINISTRATION ABOUT FINDING
SOURCES FOR FUNDING BECAUSE THE
SECRETARY HAS TAKEN EVERY
POSSIBILITY OFF OF THE TABLE TO
FUND A NEW HIGHWAY BILL.
NOW WE ARE APPARENTLY LOOKING AT
RE-AUTHORIZATION AND FINDING
OTHER UNIQUE WAYS OF FUNDING
RATHER THAN USER FEES OR GAS TAX
OR MILES DRIVEN OR REGISTRATION
OFF THE TABLE.
I WOULD SUGGEST THE GENTLEMAN
FROM MASSACHUSETTS WOULD MAYBE
VISIT WITH MR. LAHOOD AT THE
TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENT.
WITH THAT I APPRECIATE THE
GENTLEMAN YIELDING.
ME?
THE GENTLEMAN YIELDS
TIME.
THAT WILL SAVE ME
FROM TRYING TO FIGURE OUT,
REMEMBER EXACTLY WHAT I HAVE TO
SAY TO GET MORE OF MY OWN TIME,
MR. CHAIRMAN.
SOMEWHERE ARONG THE WAY IT WILL
COME BACK TO ME BUT IN THE MIDST
OF A DISCUSSION I'M NOT LIKELY
TO COME UP WITH IT EASILY.
IN ANY CASE I RECOGNIZE EXACTLY
WHAT THE GENTLEMAN -- THE
CHAIRMAN OF THE COMMITTEE IS
SAYING.
IT WILL BE INTERESTING TO SEE
WITH.
I HOPE YOU HAVE SOME IDEAS AS TO
WHAT THEY ARE GOING TO DO
BECAUSE WITH THE POSITION THAT I
AM TAKING OF THE NEED FOR THE
INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT IN
THIS COUNTRY, BOTH STATE OF GOOD
REPAIR, JUST REPAIRING IT,
KEEPING IT GOING, AND THEN THE
ADDITIONAL INFRASTRUCTURE THAT
IS NEEDED BECAUSE OF GROWTH IN
POPULATIONS, THAT IS THERE AND
WE MUST SOLVE THE PROBLEM.
IT'S NOT JUST THE EXECUTIVE'S
PROBLEM.
IT'S NOT JUST OUR PROBLEM.
IT'S A PROBLEM FOR ALL OF US.
AND THIS TAKES ONE POSSIBLE
PIECE OUT OF THE MIX.
THAT COULD BE PART OF A MIX,
JUST SIMPLY TAKES IT OFF THE
TABLE.
AND THAT I OBJECT TO AS SOMEBODY
THAT IS NOT GOING TO BE HERE
NEXT YEAR WHEN YOU MAY HAVE TO
COME UP WITH THE SOLUTION, I
OBJECT TO THAT BEING TAKEN OFF
THE TABLE.
I OPPOSE THE AMENDMENT.
THE GENTLEMAN
RECLAIMS HIS TIME?
RECLAIM MY TIME.
I YIELD TO THE GENTLEMAN.
YIELDING.
I CAN GIVE YOU MY COMMITMENT I
BELIEVE IN A ROBUST
UNITED STATES.
WE NEED IT FOR
ECONOMY AND COMMERCE.
WE UNDERSTAND THAT.
BUT WE DEFINITELY, THE V.M.T. IS
A TOXIC PART OF THIS PUZZLE THAT
WE JUST CAN'T USE.
I LOOK FORWARD TO FINDING OTHER
ALTERNATE -- ALTERNATIVE SOURCES
TO FUND A ROBUST SYSTEM,
TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM THAT I
BELIEVE THE UNITED STATES NEEDS.
I THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE
GENTLEMAN'S COMMENTS.
I YIELD BACK.
I MOVE TO STRIKE THE
LAST WORD.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM
VIRGINIA CONTROLS THE TIME.
I YIELD BACK MY TIME, MR.
CHAIRMAN.
YIELDS BACK HIS TIME.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM MASSACHUSETTS
IS RECOGNIZED, FIVE MINUTES.
AT THIS TIME I WOULD
BE SHORT.
I WISH THE GENTLEMAN FROM
MINNESOTA GREAT LUCK IN SOLVING
THIS ONE AND I AM SO HAPPY FOR
THE PEOPLE ON THAT SIDE OF THE
AISLE WHO MUST BE JUST ECSTATIC
TO SAY THEY WILL TAKE ALL THESE
THINGS OFF THE TABLE.
WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO WHEN
YOU HAVE TO HAVE JOBS AND A
ROBUST ECONOMY IN THIS LARGEST
ECONOMY IN THE WORLD?
I YIELD TO MY CHAIRMAN.
IF YOU REMEMBER ALSO
DURING THE HEARINGS WITH THE
SECRETARY, I ASKED THAT VERY
QUESTION OF THE SECRETARY, AND
YOU TAKE THE GAS TAX, VEHICLE
MILES TRAVELED OFF THE TABLE, I
SAID LET'S FIND A WAY TO DO
THIS.
WELL, HE SAID WE NEED TO SIT
DOWN AT THE TABLE AND DISCUSS
THIS.
I SAID, MR. SECRETARY, YOU ARE
AT A TABLE, I'LL BE GLAD TO COME
WE'LL DISCUSS IT.
YOU COME UP WITH SOME IDEAS.
HE CAME UP WITH ZERO IDEAS, IF
YOU REMEMBER THAT.
I YIELD BACK TO THE GENTLEMAN.
RECLAIMING MY TIME.
AT MY AGE I CAN'T REMEMBER WHAT
HAPPENED SEVERAL DAYS AGO, AND
-- BUT IT WILL FULLY COME BACK.
EVENTUALLY IT SLOWLY COMES BACK.
I YIELD BACK.
THE GENTLEMAN YIELDS
BACK THE BALANCE OF HIS TIME.
THE QUESTION IS ON THE AMENDMENT
OFFERED BY THE GENTLEMAN FROM
MINNESOTA.
SO MANY AS ARE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
THOSE OPPOSED, NO.
IN THE OPINION OF THE CHAIR, THE
AYES HAVE IT.
THE AMENDMENT IS AGREED TO.
FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE
GENTLEMAN FROM MINNESOTA SEEK
RECOGNITION?
I HAVE AN
AMENDMENT AT THE DESK.
THE CLERK WILL REPORT
THE TITLE.
MR. CRAVAACK OF MINNESOTA.
AT THE END OF THE BILL BEFORE
THE SHORT TITLE INSERT THE
FOLLOWING, SECTION, NONE OF THE
FUNDS MADE AVAILABLE BY THIS ACT
MAY BE USED IN FURTHERANCE OF
THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE
EUROPEAN UNION GREENHOUSE GAS
EMISSIONS TRADING SCHEME FOR
AVIATION ACTIVITIES ESTABLISHED
BY EUROPEAN UNION DIRECTIVE
2008/101/E.C.
THE GENTLEMAN IS
RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES.
I RISE IN STRONG
SUPPORT OF THIS BIPARTISAN
AMENDMENT.
THIS AMENDMENT IS A SIMPLE ONE.
IT PROHIBITS THE USE OF TAXPAYER
FUNDS IN FURTHERANCE OF THE
IMPLEMENTATION OF THE EUROPEAN
UNION'S EMISSIONS TRADING
SCHEME.
STARTING IN JANUARY, THE
EUROPEAN UNION BEGAN TO
UNILATERALLY APPLY THE EMISSIONS
TRADING SCHEME, E.T.S., TO CIVIL
AVIATION OPERATORS LANDING OR
DEPARTING FROM ONE OF THE E.U.
MEMBER STATES, UNDER THE SCHEME,
E.U. MEMBER STATES WILL REQUIRE
INTERNATIONAL CARRIERS AND
OPERATORS TO PAY EMISSION
ALLOWANCES AND IN SOME CASES
PENALTIES FOR CARBON EMISSIONS
RESULTING ON THEIR OPERATIONS.
IT WILL APPLY TO THE ENTIRE
LEPT OF THE FLIGHT EVEN OUTSIDE
EUROPEAN AIR SPACE.
FAR FLIGHT LEAVING LOS ANGELES
TO LONDON, TAXES WOULD BE
LEVIED NOT ONLY FOR THE PORTION
OF THE FLIGHT OVER THE UNITED
KINGDOM BUT ALSO FOR PORTIONS
OF THE FLIGHT OVER THE UNITED
STATES AND INTERNATIONAL
WATERS.
DESPITE SERIOUS LEGAL ISSUES
AND OBJECTIONS BY THE MAJORITY
OF THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY
INCLUDING THE UNITED STATES,
INDIA, RUSSIA, CHINA AND THE
INTERNATIONAL CIVIL AVIATION
ASSOCIATION, THE E.U. ISES
PREING AHEAD WITH ITS PLANS.
RUSSIA, CHINA, AND INDIA ARE
TAKING VERY CLEAR ACTIONS IN
OPPOSITION TO THE E.U.'S
EMISSION SCHEME.
CHINA AND INDIA DIRECTED THEIR
AIR CARRIERS NOT TO COMPLY WITH
THE E.U.'S E.T.S. REQUIREMENTS.
CHINA DELAYED AIRBUS ORDERS,
INDIA IS THREATENING IN KIND
RETALIATION AND RUSSIA IS
THREATENING TO NOT ALLOW AIR
SPACE ACCESS.
PUTTING THIS ON U.S. OPERATORS
WITHOUT THE CONSENT OF THE U.S.
GOVERNMENT RAISES SERIOUS
QUESTION OF U.S. LAW.
THE EMISSIONS TRADING SCHEME
WILL ACTUALLY HARM EFFORTS TO
REDUCE GLOBAL AVIATION
EMISSIONS.
BY TAKING MONEY AWAY FROM
AIRLINE INDUSTRY THAT WOULD
OTHERWISE BE INVESTED IN
NEXTGEN TECHNOLOGIES AND
PURCHASE OF NEW AIRCRAFT, TO
IMPROVING
ENVIRONMENTAL PERFORMANCE, THE
E.U. IS SIPHONING SCARCE MONEY
TO BE USED AS MEMBER STATES SEE
A BETTER APPROACH TO ADDRESS
THE AVIATION IMPACT IS TO WORK
WITH THE INTERNATIONAL CIVIL
AVIATION COMMUNITY THROUGH THE
INTERNATIONAL CIVIL AVIATION TO
ADDRESS SERIOUS ISSUES TO
REDUCE EMISSIONS.
HOWEVER, BECAUSE THEY HAVE MADE
NO EFFORT TO RETRACT THE
TRADING SCHEME, THIS IS
NECESSARY TO MAKE SURE AMERICAN
TAXPAYER DOLLARS WON'T BE USED
TO FURTHER THE EUROPEANS'
UNILATERAL AND QUESTIONABLE
SCHEME.
LAST OCTOBER, THE HOUSE PASSED
H.R. 2954, WHICH DIRECTS THE
SECRETARY OF TRANSPORTATION TO
PROHIBIT U.S. CARRIERS FROM
SCHEME.
A COMPANION BILL HAS BEEN
INTRODUCED IN THE SENATE.
IT'S MY HOPE THAT THE SENATE
WILL MOVE QUICKLY TOWARD ITS
PASSAGE.
THAT LEGISLATION, ALONG WITH
THIS AMENDMENT TO THE
TRANSPORTATION APPROPRIATIONS
FOR FISCAL YEAR 2013 WILL SEND
STRONG MESSAGE TO OUR
EUROPEAN FRIENDS THAT ILLEGAL
AND UNILATERAL ACTION TO
ADDRESS THE AVIATION EMISSIONS
IS NOT THE PROPER COURSE OF
ACTION TO DEAL WITH THIS ISSUE.
THIS MUST BE A CON ENIS --
CONSENSUS DRIVEN SOLUTION NOT
AN INTERNATIONAL MANDATE.
THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER, I YIELD
BACK THE BALANCE OF MY TIME.
BACK.
FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE
GENTLEMAN FROM IOWA SEEK RECK
WORD.
THE GENTLEMAN IS
RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES.
I THANK THE
DISTINGUISHED GENTLEMAN, THE
LET ME JUST RISE IN STRONG
SUPPORT OF THIS AMENDMENT.
THIS, I THINK, IS ONE OF THE
MOST OUTRAGEOUS, OFFENSIVE
TACKS I HAVE EVER HEARD OF, TO
BE ABLE TO, THE IDEA OF TAXES
U.S. TRAVELERS FROM ANY POINT
IN THE UNITED STATES JUST
BECAUSE THEY'RE TRAVELING TO A
DESTINATION IN EUROPE IS SIMPLY
OUTRAGEOUS.
IT'S GOING TO BE DEVASTATING TO
U.S. CARRIERS AND IT'S
SOMETHING THAT WE HAVE GOT TO
PUT A STOP TO.
LIKE THE GENTLEMAN TALKED
ABOUT, THE INTERNATIONAL
COMMUNITY, STRONG OPPOSITION, I
THINK ON A BIPARTISAN BASIS,
EVERYONE IS OPPOSED TO THIS.
IT IS AGAIN, A FAR OVERREACH,
IT IS UNNECESSARY, IT IS SIMPLY
WRONG.
I REALLY APPRECIATE THE
GENTLEMAN'S WORK ON THIS TO
HAVE THIS AMENDMENT BROUGHT
FORWARD TO AT LEAST THE FIRST
STEP IN STOPPING THIS VERY,
VERY, I THINK, EGREGIOUS NEW
TAX AND WITH THAT, I YIELD BACK
THE BALANCE OF MY TIME.
THE GENTLEMAN YIELDS
BACK THE BALANCE OF HIS TIME.
FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE
GENTLEMAN FROM MASSACHUSETTS
SEEK RECOGNITION?
I MOVE TO STRIKE THE
LAST WORD.
THE GENTLEMAN IS
RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES.
THE EUROPEAN UNION
HAS IMPLEMENTED AN EMOTIONS
TRADING REGIMEN AS A MEANS OF
GAS EMOTION
20'S% BELOW 1990 LEVELS.
THEY'RE NOT SUCCEEDING VERY
MUCH, THEY ARE PUTTING IN A
FAIRLY HARD EFFORT TO DO THAT,
BUT THE EMISSIONS, GREENHOUSE
GAS EMOTIONS CONTINUE TO GO UP.
THE CO-2 PERCENTAGE IN THE
ATMOSPHERE IS NOW IN THE YEAR
2012 ABOUT 50% HIGHER THAN IT
HAS BEEN AT ANY TIME IN THE
LAST 500,000 YEARS.
AND GOING UP, CONTINUING TO GO
UP.
SO -- BUT WE'RE NOT GOING TO
SELL CLIMATE CHANGE ISSUES
TONIGHT, SO I UNDERSTAND THAT
THIS AMENDMENT WILL BE ADOPTED
AND -- BUT THE EFFORT IS GOING
TO EVENTUALLY GO ON TO
DEAL WITH OUR CLIMATE CHANGE.
THE GENTLEMAN YIELDS
BACK THE BALANCE OF HIS TIME.
THE QUESTION IS ON THE
AMENDMENT OFFERED BY THE
GENTLEMAN FROM MINNESOTA.
THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
THOSE OPPOSED, NO.
IN THE OPINION OF THE CHAIR OF
CHAIR, THE AYES -- IN THE
OPINION OF THE CHAIR, THE AYES
HAVE IT, THE AMENDMENT IS
FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE
GENTLEMAN FROM GEORGIA SEEK
RECOGNITION?
I HAVE AN AMENDMENT AT THE
THE CLERK WILL
REPORT THE AMENDMENT.
AMENDMENT OFFERED BY
MR. PRICE OF GEORGIA.
AT THE END OF THE BILL BEFORE
THE SHORT TITLE, INSERT THE
FOLLOWING, SECTION, NONE OF THE
AMOUNTS MADE AVAILABLE BY THIS
ACT MAY BE USED BY THE PIPELINE
AND HAZARDOUS MATERIALS SAFETY
ADMINISTRATION TO REQUIRE THE
PLACEMENT OF LINE MARKERS UNDER
SECTION 195.410-A-1 OF TITLE
49, CODE OF FEDERAL REGULATIONS
OTHER THAN AT PUBLIC ROAD
CROSSINGS AND RAILROAD
CROSSINGS.
THE GENTLEMAN IS
RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES.
CHAIRMAN.
WE HAVE ALL HEARD ABOUT MANY
REGULATIONS THAT COME FROM THIS
TOWN THAT SEEM TO BE
RIDICULOUS, SOMETIMES, THEY'RE
INOCK LOUSE, SOMETIMES
THESE ARE REGULATIONS THAT
OFTEN DON'T HELP ANYBODY AT
ALL.
SOMETIMES, HOWEVER, THEY HARM
REAL PEOPLE'S LIVES AND HOMES
AND THEIR BUSINESSES.
LAST YEAR, MR. CHAIRMAN, ALONG
A HALF MILE STRETCH OF
REMINGTON ROAD IN CHAMBLEY,
GEORGIA, UNDER REQUIREMENT FROM
THE PIPELINE AND HAZARDOUS
WASTE MATERIALS WAS FORCED TO
PLACE 17 NEW HAZARD MARKERS ON
THE FRONT LAWNS OF HOMES IN
THAT BROUGHT THE TOTAL NUMBER
OF HAZARD MARKERS TO 47.
47 WITHIN A HALF MILE STRETCH.
A HALF MILE STRETCH OF ROAD IN
A RESIDENTIAL SUBDIVISION WHERE
THERE'S NO NEW CONSTRUCTION AND
THE PIPELINE'S BEEN THERE FOR
DECADES.
YOU TALK ABOUT RIDICULOUS.
THE REGULATION STATES, QUOTE,
MARKERS MUST BE LOCATED AT EACH
PUBLIC ROAD CROSS, EACH
RAILROAD CROSSING, IN SUCH
NUMBERS ALONG THE REMAINDER OF
THE BURIED LINE SO ITS
PLACEMENT IS KNOWN.
THOUGH THE REGULATION HANT
CHANGED, ITS INTERPRETS AHAS.
WE SENT A LETTER TO THE THEM.
THEY SAID, WHILE THEY SPECIFY
THE MINIMUM NUMBER OF LINE
MARKERS, THEY DON'T DEFINE THE
MAXIMUM NUMBER.
THEY ARE ALLOWED TO EXCEED THE
MINIMUM.
LOOK AT THIS FRONT LAWN HERE.
FIVE OR SIX MARKERS IN THE
FRONT LAWN OF A RESIDENTIAL
CAREER I -- CLEARLY THIS IS
I'M CERTAIN THERE ARE OTHER
COMMUNITIES ACROSS THIS GREAT
ARE SIMILARLY
AFFECTED BY AN OVERSO LOUSE
REGULATOR.
THIS DOESN'T HELP A SOUL BUT
WHAT IT DOES IS LIKELY DEPRESS
PROPERTY VALUES AT A
OWNERS.
LET'S PUT COMMON SENSE BACK IN
GOVERNMENT THIS AMENDMENT I'VE
OFFERED TODAY IS DESIGNED TO
STOP THE PIPELINE AND HAZARDOUS
MATERIALS SAFETY REGULATION
FROM BROADLY INTERPRETING THE
REGULATIONS IN THE FUTURE BY
ENSURING THAT NO FUNDS SHALL BE
USED TO REQUIRE THE PLACEMENT
OF LINE MARKERS OTHER THAN AT
ROAD CROSSINGS AND RAILROAD
CROSSINGS.
WE HAVE STRUGGLED TO FIND THE
RIGHT AVENUE TO ADDRESS THE
ISSUE AND HOPEFULLY WE'LL BE
ABLE TO GET THE ATTENTION OF
THESE WONDERFUL FOLKS.
WHILE NOT POSSIBLE TO HAVE THIS
AMENDMENT BROUGHT TO CONCLUSION
ON THIS LEGISLATION, I KNOW THE
CHAIRMAN IS AS INTERESTED AS I
IN ENDING THE OVERBEARING
REGULATORY SCHEME THAT SEEMS TO
HAVE OVERTAKEN EVERY SINGLE
DEPARTMENT IN THIS TOWN.
IF THE CHAIRMAN WOULD BE
DESIROUS, I'D BE HAPPY TO YIELD
TO HEM FOR A COMMENT.
GENTLEMAN FOR YIELDING.
OBVIOUSLY WE ALL WANT PIPELINE
SAFETY.
THAT'S NUMBER ONE ISSUE.
BUT WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT
IS TRULY BEYOND THE PALE AS FAR
AS ANY KIND OF COMMON SENSE.
WE'VE GOT TO FIND A BALANCE
LIKE YOU'VE TALKED ABOUT AND
THAT'S WHAT THE OVERREACH THAT
WE'RE SEEING, IN SO MANY AREAS
OF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT,
CAUSES THINGS LIKE THIS THAT
ARE SIMPLY NONSENSE CALL.
I APPRECIATE THE GENTLEMAN FOR
BRINGING THE ISSUE FORWARD.
AND WOULD WANT TO WORK WITH HIM
IN THE FUTURE TO FIND A
RESOLUTION TO YOUR CONCERNS.
I THANK THE CHAIRMAN
AND I APPRECIATE THAT.
THIS IS SIMPLY RIDICULOUS.
IF THAT'S YOUR FRONT LAWN, MR.
CHAIRMAN, THAT'S THE LAST PLACE
YOU WANT TO SEE THOSE SIGNS IN
YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD IN YOUR
RESIDENTIAL AREA.
I APPRECIATE THE CHANCE TO
BRING THIS AMENDMENT, I ASK
UNANIMOUS CONSENT TO WITHDRAW
WITHOUT OBJECTION,
THE AMENDMENT IS WITHDRAWN.
DOES THE
GENTLEMAN FROM FLORIDA SEEK
RECOGNITION?
THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN, I
HAVE AN AMENDMENT AT THE DESK.
THE CLERK WILL
DESIGNATE THE AMENDMENT.
AMENDMENT NUMBER 8
PRINTED IN THE CONGRESSIONAL
RECORD OFFERED BY MR. POSEY OF
FLORIDA.
THE GENTLEMAN IS
RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES.
CHAIRMAN.
MY AMENDMENT IS VERY SIMPLE, IT
PROHIBITS TAXPAYER DOLLARS FROM
BEING USED FOR THE DEPARTMENT
OF TRANSPORTATION'S
INTERNATIONAL HIGHWAY
TECHNOLOGY SCANNING
PROGRAMMING.
ACCORDING TO THE DEPARTMENT OF
TRANSPORTATION, THIS PROGRAM
ENABLES THE DEPARTMENT'S
OFFICIALS TO ACCESS INNOVATIVE
TECHNOLOGIES AND PRACTICES IN
OTHER COUNTRIES THAT COULD
SIGNIFICANTLY IMPROVE OUR
NATION'S HIGHWAYS.
I AND MOST TAXPAYERS REALLY
THAT.
IF SOMEONE ELSE HAS A GOOD IDEA
AND WE CAN AND WE SHOULD LEARN
FROM THAT.
BUT MOST TAXPAYERS WERE
OUTRAGED WHEN ABC NEWS AND
CITIZENS AGAINST GOVERNMENT
WASTE HIGHLIGHTED THAT THIS
WAS BANKROLLING
GLOBETROTTING JUNKETS ACROSS
THE WORLD.
ONE SUCH TRIP FEATURED A 1746
DAY ORTEAL TO AUSTRALIA,
SWEDEN, THE NETHERLANDS AND
BILLBOARDS.
ALL THE WHILE, WRACKING UP
TAXPAYER BILLS AT FIVE-STAR
HOTELS AND RESTAURANTS.
AMONG THE IMPORTANT RESEARCH
CONDUCTED BY THE TEAM, A TRIP
TO SCOTLAND TO EVALUATE ROAD
FURNITURE ALONG RURAL ROADS.
AND IN THE NETHERLANDS, THEY
TOOK A SERIOUS LOOK AT EXAMPLES
OF OUTDOOR ADVERTISING.
WHEN THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS
UP TO ITS NECK IN DEBT, SUCH
EXPENDITURES TRULY ARE AN ABUSE
OF TAXPAYERS.
AS A RESULT, CITIZENS AGAINST
GOVERNMENT WASTE WAS ABLE TO
APPLY ENOUGH PRESSURE TO THE
AGENCY TO SUSPEND THE $1.2
MILLION ANNUAL PROGRAM.
WE'RE NOT SURE WHAT SUSPEND
MEANS, IF IT'S FOR A DAY, A
WEEK, OR A MONTH.
ABC NEWS REPORTED THAT UPWARDS
OF $12 MILLION HAS BEEN SPENT
ON THE PROGRAM SINCE THE YEAR
I SEE THE SUSPENSION OF THE
PROGRAM BY SECRETARY LAHOOD AS
A GOOD START BUT THERE ARE NO
GUARANTEES THAT SUCH WASTE WILL
NOT RESUME AS NOTHING IN LAW
WOULD PREVENT THE PROGRAM FROM
FUTURE.
THIS AMENDMENT VERY SIMPLY WILL
ENSURE THAT THE PROGRAM WILL
NOT COME BACK TO LIFE DURING
THE FISCAL YEAR 2013.
THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN.
WASHINGTON IS APPROACHING
ANOTHER TRILLION-PLUS DEFICIT
AND WE CANNOT AFFORD FIVE-STAR
JUNKETS.
I URGE SUPPORT OF THE
AMENDMENT.
THE GENTLEMAN YIELDS
BACK THE BALANCE OF HIS TIME.
FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE
GENTLEMAN FROM IOWA SEEK
RECOGNITION?
WORD.
THE GENTLEMAN IS
RECOGNIZED.
I RISE IN SUPPORT
OF THEAMENT AND APPRECIATE VERY
MUCH THE GENTLEMAN FROM FLORIDA
BRINGING THIS ISSUE TO THE
ATTENTION OF THE HOUSE AND
AGAIN, VERY STRONGLY SUPPORT
HIS PROPOSAL TO DO AWAY WITH
YIELD BACK.
CHAIR: THE GENTLEMAN YIELD
BACK.
THE QUESTION IS ON THE
AMENDMENT OFFERED BY THE
GENTLEMAN FROM FLORIDA.
THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
THOSE OPPOSED, NO.
IN THE OPINION OF THE CHAIR,
THE AYES HAVE IT.
THE AMENDMENT IS AGREED TO.
FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE
GENTLEWOMAN FROM CALIFORNIA
SEEK RECOGNITION?
MR. CHAIRMAN, I MOVE TO
STRIKE THE LAST WORD.
THE GENTLEWOMAN IS
RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES.
I RISE TODAY IN
OPPOSITION TO A POSSIBLE
ATTEMPT FOR A MEMBER TO BRING
FORWARD AN AMENDMENT WHICH
WOULD PROHIBIT ANY FUNDS IN
H.R. 5972 FROM BEING USED
TOWARD THE CALIFORNIA HIGH
SPEED RAIL PROJECT.
AS A MEMBER OF THE HOUSE
COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION AND
INFRA-- AND INFRASTUCKTURE AND
CO-SHARE OF THE CALIFORNIA HIGH
SPEED RAIL CONGRESSIONAL
CAUCUS, THIS SPRONLT A PRIORITY
OF MY STATE AND THE VOTERS WHO
AGREED TO MOVE OUR STATE INTO
THE 21ST CENTURY AND TO BE ABLE
COMPETITIVE TPWHROBALLY.
OUR NATION'S ABILITY TO MOVE
GOODS AND PEOPLE IS ESSENTIAL
TO DEVELOP AND MAIN A STRONG
ECONOMY AND THIS PROJECT IS
CRITICAL TO MEETING THE STATE'S
GROWING TRANSPORTATION NEEDS.
IN FACT, TRAFFIC CONGESTION IN
CALIFORNIA IS INCREASING BY 10%
EACH YEAR AND IT'S ESTIMATED
THE STATE'S AIRPORTS WILL REACH
CAPACITY BY 2030.
AS CALIFORNIA'S POPULATION
CONTINUES TO BOOM, WE MUST
INVEST IN ALTERNATIVE SYSTEMS
THAT WILL REMEDY THIS CONSTANT
CONGESTION AND HELP TO PROTECT
THE HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENT OF
LOCAL COMMUNITIES.
NOW, I, AS A MEMBER OF THE
TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE, I
HAPPEN TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY
TO PARTICIPATE WITH CHIRME MICA
WHEN WE WENT TO THE CENTRAL
VALLEY TO TALK ABOUT THE
POSSIBILITY OF MOVING FORWARD
ON HIGH SPEED RAIL.
AND ADMITTEDLY, THERE WERE
CONCERNS BROUGHT FORWARD BUT
THERE WERE FAR MORE SUPPORTERS
WHO WANNED TO SEE HIGH SPEED
RAIL MOVE FORWARD THAN THOSE
WHO WERE OPPOSED.
AGAIN, I WANT TO STRESS THAT
THE VOTERS IN CALIFORNIA TOOK
UPON THEMSELVES TO TAX
THEMSELVES AS AN INDEPENDENT
STATE PODDY, TO TAX THEMSELVES
TO MOVE FORWARD ON HIGH SPEED
RAIL.
SO WHO ARE WE IN THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT TO PROHIBIT
PROVIDING FUNDS THAT MIGHT
MATCH TO ENABLE THAT PROJECT TO
MOVE FORWARD.
GIVEN THE SPEED LIMITATIONS IN
THE NORTHEAST CORRIDOR IT SEEMS
TO ME IT WOULD BE ILL-ADVISED TO
DENY CALIFORNIA AND THIS COUNTRY
THE EFFICIENT TRANSPORTATION
OPTIONS THAT MANY OF US SO
RICHLY NEED, ESPECIALLY KNOWING
THAT CALIFORNIA'S ONE OF THE
MOST TRAVELED AREAS IN THIS
COUNTRY.
AS A RESULT EVEN THE EARLIEST
INVESTMENTS WOULD BE HELPFUL
COMPLETED.
NOW IS THE TIME TO MAKE SMART
AND LONG-SIGHTED INVESTMENTS FOR
ALTERNATIVES, TO CONGESTED
HIGHWAYS AND SIMULTANEOUSLY TO
CREATE JOBS.
MR. SPEAKER, WE HAVE BEFORE US
AN OPPORTUNITY TO SUPPORT
AMERICAN WORKERS FOR TODAY BY
PUTTING AMERICA ON THE ROAD TO
RECOVERY, WHILE MORE IMPORTANTLY
SYSTEM THAT WE COULD COMPETE
WITH OUR COMPETITORS LIKE CHINA.
CALIFORNIA HIGH SPEED RAIL
PROJECT IS A NECESSITY FOR THE
SUCCESS OF CALIFORNIA AND THE
SUCCESS OF THE UNITED STATES.
THANK YOU AND I YIELD BACK THE
BALANCE OF MY TIME.
THE GENTLEWOMAN
YIELDS BACK THE BALANCE OF HER
FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE
RECOGNITION?
MR. CHAIRMAN, I HAVE AN
AMENDMENT AT THE DESK.