On the recordMay 19, 2015
The infrastructure investment can be an economic game changer. In western New York, the Federal highway bill funded the reconstruction of Fuhrman Boulevard, which reconnected our community with its waterfront, resulting in new private sector investment. From Filmore Avenue and Ohio Street in Buffalo to Main Street in Williamsville, the Robert Moses Parkway in Niagara Falls, and Kenmore Avenue in Tonawanda, tens of millions of Federal dollars are contributing to transformative projects in our community. The construction of these projects has economic benefits as well. 660,000 jobs depend on Federal road and transit investment. Yet today, the House will extend, for just 2 months, the Federal transportation program that is weak and inadequate. We can do much better. America needs a long-term bill that provides funding. We need to create jobs and bring our infrastructure to a state of good repair. Last week, I introduced the Nation Building Here at Home Act to do just that. Congress should be humbled that it has allowed our infrastructure to fall into such disrepair, and we should use these 2 months to pass a long-term bill that America needs. ____________________
