Julia Brownley: “I would like to thank the Chairman and the Ranking Member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee for…”

“I would like to thank the Chairman and the Ranking Member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee for including my amendment No. 22, related to job creation, in the en bloc agreement today. My amendment is a simple, straight-forward improvement to H.R. 3080, the Water Resources Reform and Development Act. This important amendment will require the Government Accountability Office to study and report to Congress on the effectiveness of the activities funded by the Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund in maximizing economic growth and job creation in the communities surrounding low- and moderate-use ports. The GAO will also be required to include recommendations relating to the use of amounts in the Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund to increase the competitiveness of United States ports relative to Canadian and Mexican ports. Under my amendment, the term ``low-use port'' means a port at which not more than 1,000,000 tons of cargo are transported each calendar year. The term ``moderate-use port'' means a port at which more than 1,000,000, but fewer than 10,000,000, tons of cargo are transported each calendar year. I came to Congress to move our nation forward, to create jobs, and to ensure that Ventura County has the resources necessary to succeed. Like many of my colleagues, I view all of the actions that Congress takes--and all federal programs--through the lens of its potential to create jobs.…”