Political Quotes

“I just want to make note of an important provision that is included in the en bloc amendment package. As you know, the transportation bill includes a new program that addresses significant roadways. It addresses some of the more expensive projects, and it establishes a competitive grant program in excess of about $740 million a year. One of the important things we have to do is we have to provide guidance to the Department of the Transportation in regard to the criteria they use, the metrics they use, in this competitive process. An amendment in this bill includes the importance of strategic energy assets to ensure that roadways like LA 1 in south Louisiana are included. After Hurricane Katrina, gasoline prices nationwide spiked about 75 cents a gallon. Following Hurricanes Gustav and Ike in 2008, gasoline prices spiked about $1.40 a gallon, which was the largest price spike since the Arab oil embargo. So it is important that, as they go through and allocate these grants, that they are looking at factors that are very important and have national consequences. I want to thank the ranking member and the chairman and all the big four for helping us on this. Mr. DeFAZIO. Mr. Chairman, we are not quite at the end of this epic, but I would like to take a moment. First, I want to reflect on the chairman's brief eulogy for Howard Coble, who was a wonderful member of the committee; and Howard's embarked on his last great voyage. We all remember him warmly.…”