Political Quotes

“Mr. President, I have good news for the people of Louisiana and good news for the American people: We have an agreement on an infrastructure package. Now, OK, an ``infrastructure package''; what does that mean? Let's just talk. There will be $110 billion for roads and bridges nationwide--$40 billion for bridges. By the way, Louisiana has the third most bridges in poor condition. So, if you are stuck right now in traffic trying to get over the Sabine River or the Calcasieu River or the Mississippi River or any of our other rivers which have bridges in poor condition, there is relief for you. There is $47 billion for resiliency. Now, my State is flooded more than other States, but every State, it seems, has had an issue with flooding. There is $47 billion; a significant portion of it is for flooding issues, for coastal restoration, and other things regarding resiliency. There is permitting reform. Right now, we know it can take 6 to 10 years for a bridge project--an Army Corps of Engineers project--to be permitted. Sometimes it takes so long to permit that the facts on the ground have actually changed, and the permit almost is inaccurate. In building upon pilot projects which have shown that permitting can be shortened from 6 years to 2 years, this infrastructure package has that permitting reform. There will be less money for bureaucrats and attorneys, and there will be more money for construction--what a major advance.…”