Political Quotes

“I thank Chairman DeFazio for yielding. I rise in opposition to amendment No. 124 on both the merits and the process that bring us to the people's House today. I came to Congress to fix issues in southern West Virginia, like our need for strong and stable infrastructure and to bring new opportunity to our State. During the markup on H.R. 2, I introduced a commonsense amendment to solve a problem that has been plaguing rural America for years: the Appalachian Development Highway System. The ADHS is an essential part of America's highway system and has been since 1965. Its goal is to connect rural communities with high-quality roadways, allowing us to transport our goods and people across the country. This system is instrumental in guaranteeing economic success for all of America. Unfortunately, outdated funding mechanisms are bogging down progress by holding taxpayer money hostage in projects that are already completed while other underfunded projects stay unfinished. My legislation would fix this problem by freeing up the States to collaborate on these projects and deliver money in a targeted approach. There is no additional cost to taxpayers, and it would not cut funding for any State. It is good policy that was adopted in the Senate and passed in our committee without objection by one single member. Bipartisan and bicameral, what a rare sight for Washington these days.…”