Elizabeth Esty

I really want to thank the six of you for your service and what you represent for firefighters across the country.

Eighty percent of all our firefighters are volunteers. I have a lot of small, rural communities, and they absolutely depend on these programs.

The only part of the system that is making money is the Northeast Corridor.

I represent Connecticut, and I have constituents who ride these rails every day.

My concern is now we are looking to further undermine support for appropriated funding for FAA.

The public is highly suspicious of removing and having a separate entity.

That is a function of the majority, which is controlling funding, to do appropriate funding.

Wouldn't it seem inherent, given that this new private entity would have to coordinate with the remains of FAA, that that process of separation, when we are well into this, would, in and of itself, cause some delays?

I refer to my colleagues as patriots when I am in my district, I say they are all patriots.

I demand a recorded vote. The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to clause 6 of rule XVIII, further proceedings on the amendment offered by the gentlewoman from Connecticut will be postponed. Amendment No. 2 Offered by Mr. Huffman The Acting CHAIR. It…

May I inquire as to how much time I have remaining? The Acting CHAIR. The gentlewoman has 1 minute remaining.

But I really do want to emphasize that we are really not across the finish line until this bill is implemented.

The Federal Government, I believe, should be exploring whether targeted Federal subsidies to assist individual households, lower income, which many of you flagged that challenge.

The primary Federal program to provide this assistance, the Clean Water State Revolving Fund, was last reauthorized 30 years ago.

We want the most effective use of tax dollars. We all want that.

Reauthorizing and funding the Clean Water State Revolving Fund is particularly important for many of our States.

Our communities need additional financial resources and assistance to clean up their local rivers, streams, and lakes.

Improving our Nation's water quality should continue to be a priority for Congress, and I look forward to working together to help our communities make continued progress in restoring their local rivers, lakes, and streams for the…

Poor water quality does not just threaten public health, it jeopardizes our fisheries, limits recreational opportunities, and is a drag on our economy.

Forty-five years later, water quality continues to be a challenge across the country and in my home State of Connecticut.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman, for holding this important hearing on improving water quality through integrated planning.

I thank the gentleman, Mr. Garamendi, for our shared commitment to American manufacturing and to ensure that, once again, America will be the envy of the world for a fantastic infrastructure and transportation system. Mr. Speaker, I yield…

Structural reform has always proved very difficult. Almost all the structural reforms... have been made by Democrats.

You are not just in the transportation business. You are in the customer service business, and we have seen some rather noteworthy and disturbing failures in the last few weeks.

We sent them into harm's way and they are now experiencing exactly the same symptoms and problems that their colleagues, men and women in arms, were facing on land.