James M. Jeffords: “This bill will provide desperately needed funds to rebuild decaying roads and bridges and to improve transit systems…”

“This bill will provide desperately needed funds to rebuild decaying roads and bridges and to improve transit systems across the country. It will pump billions of dollars into real, lasting improvements in physical infrastructure. In the process it will provide new, quality jobs for hundreds of thousands of people. These are jobs that cannot be outsourced. I repeat--these are jobs that cannot be outsourced. The President says that this bill is too expensive. He also apparently believes that outsourcing American jobs is a good thing. He is wrong on both counts. If we can spend billions rebuilding Iraq's physical infrastructure, surely we can find the money to maintain America's transportation infrastructure. Without well-maintained roads, bridges, and transit systems, our economy will inevitably suffer. Let's keep the big picture in view here. This bill spends money to pay Americans for work done in this country. This work translates directly into improved roads, bridges, and transit systems. Better infrastructure reduces transaction costs and makes the economy more efficient. This is an economic fact. This bill also reduces congestion on our Nation's roadways by enhancing public transportation and promoting intermodal solutions to regional transportation problems. As we all know, less congestion means shorter commute times. Shorter commute times means more time for productive activity. This too is an economic fact.”