Political Quotes

“this amendment unties the hands of States which were handcuffed by a provision added in committee last year and is still in the bill, a provision on which debate was cut short last year, but now we can finish the job, and I hope we will. This provision will cost the States nearly $900 million in highway, bridge, and transit construction or rehabilitation funding unless we adopt the amendment. The provision binding our States, section 1620 of the bill, mandates that every State, regardless of whether it needs it or not, set aside 2 percent, or nearly $900 million, for use for the life of the bill only on storm water mitigation activities. My amendment strikes this mandatory set-aside. Without the amendment, States will be directed to set aside over $740 million from their Surface Transportation Program funds, funds that otherwise could construct or rehabilitate highways, bridges, or transit systems. Without this amendment, States would be forced to set aside over $125 million from the Equity Bonus Program set up by this bill to help States receive more highway dollars. Without this amendment, the States will be forced to use nearly $900 million only on storm water mitigation, regardless of the need of such activities. Every State will lose highway dollars under this set-aside. We have tables available. Alabama, the set-aside would cost it $19 million; Alaska, $10 million; Arizona, $17 million; Arkansas, $12 million.…”