Pete Aguilar: “I thank the gentleman for yielding. Madam Chair, today I rise in support of my fellow Inland Empire colleague, Mr.…”

“I thank the gentleman for yielding. Madam Chair, today I rise in support of my fellow Inland Empire colleague, Mr. Takano's amendment to the surface transportation bill, which would clarify project eligibility under the Nationally Significant Freight and Highway Projects program. Improving our roads, rails, and bridges is crucial for the Inland Empire, a region of San Bernardino and Riverside Counties that Congressman Takano and I represent. Working families need reliable transportation and infrastructure to get to and from work, to get their children to school, and to have the ability to play a role in our regional, State, and national economies. This amendment would allow more local projects to meet that $100 million threshold to qualify for the Nationally Significant Freight and Highway Projects program that otherwise wouldn't meet the requirements and would be excluded from Federal funding. The Valley Boulevard grade separation in Colton is just one program in San Bernardino County that would benefit directly from this project, one of many throughout California and the Nation. This amendment would help San Bernardino and Riverside County residents, as well as millions of working families and public safety officials who require the grade separations throughout our country, who rely on transportation and infrastructure each and every day. I urge my colleagues to vote in favor of the amendment.”