Young Oak Kim: “I have heard critics saying today that we are stealing money from other programs to rebuild our highways and bridges.…”

“I have heard critics saying today that we are stealing money from other programs to rebuild our highways and bridges. Now, come on. Let us be honest with the American people. The money is already there. The American people pay for it with the gas tax money. In 1956, Congress made a simple contract with the American people that gas taxes would be used for highways and bridges. Seven years ago, Congress broke the promise and diverted gas tax money to foreign aid and other programs. Southern Californians have paid dearly for that ever since. Southern Californians spend more time stuck in traffic than anyone else in the country. And there is another argument. I am tired of hearing this bill is full of pork. It is not about pork. It is about saving people's lives. Every year 14,000 people are killed in roads that are too narrow, too congested, or simply too dangerous for existing traffic. None of these people have to die. In my district, there is a road known as 'Blood Alley.' Eight lanes of freeway are crammed into a two-lane country road when it crosses the county line. About 10 people die each year on this three-mile stretch of road because the counties do not want each other's traffic. Our bill includes $13 million to widen this Blood Alley and save lives. Fixing Blood Alley is our responsibility. It is not pork. Our bill saves lives and restores our promise to the American people.”