Mike Thompson: “I thank the gentleman for yielding. Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to this piece of legislation and strong opposition…”

“I thank the gentleman for yielding. Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to this piece of legislation and strong opposition to the fact that we are back here again rehashing the same old issues that aren't going anyplace. It has been pointed out they are probably not even going to be taken up in the Senate; and, if by some chance they were, they are certainly not going to be signed into law by the President. We are not going anywhere if we keep wasting the time, as we have been wasting the time trying to repeal ObamaCare and defund Planned Parenthood. It is a terrible situation because we have some real important things that we need to do. Next year a third of our Nation's Medicare beneficiaries--that is people in every one of our congressional districts--will face the steepest premium hikes in the history of the program if this Congress doesn't act. We have got a transportation bill that has been long due to be passed. We keep kicking the can down the road, and it is a very bumpy road because we don't pass a transportation bill. If we pass that bill, we put people to work. About 14 million jobs hinge on the passage of a long-term transportation bill. This is for improving roads and highways, making our overpasses and our businesses safe. Fourteen million jobs will help the economy; but, instead, we are dillydallying on the floor today with this piece of go-nowhere legislation.…”