Wayne Allard: “I rise in support of the SAFETEA bill. Effective transportation is vital to our Nation, and I believe this bill will be…”

“I rise in support of the SAFETEA bill. Effective transportation is vital to our Nation, and I believe this bill will be an important step in helping to meet the country's transportation needs. I would like to thank both Senator Inhofe and Senator Jeffords for working hard on this bill. The people of Oklahoma are blessed with the hard work Senator Inhofe has put forward, both in the Senate and when I had the opportunity to serve with him in the House. This bill has required a lot of hard work and a lot of dedication. He has put forward an effort that I think we all appreciate. Sometimes we forget to say thank you for the hard work that goes into a bill such as this, including the hard work of the staff, I might add. The staff on both sides has been helpful in putting this legislation together. In particular, I express my support for the public transportation title of the bill. While many people erroneously refer to this as the highways bill, it is actually a comprehensive reauthorization of the Nation's surface transportation programs, including transit. A healthy, well-functioning transit network can greatly enhance the effectiveness of other transportation modes, and as chairman of the Subcommittee on Housing and Transportation of the Banking Committee, I have had many opportunities to see the difference reliable public transportation can make for both individuals and communities. I also express my thanks to the Banking Committee chairman, Chairman Shelby.…”