John W. Olver: “Madam Chairman, I'm pleased to present to the House the fiscal year 2008 Transportation and Housing and Urban…”

“Madam Chairman, I'm pleased to present to the House the fiscal year 2008 Transportation and Housing and Urban Development appropriations bill. I thank Members for their input and work on this bill. I especially recognize the important contributions of my ranking member Mr. Knollenberg in putting this bill together. As former chairman of this subcommittee, he had numerous valuable insights that make the bill and report stronger, and I have appreciated his advice and counsel during this process. I also thank the chairman of the Appropriations Committee Mr. Obey and the ranking member of the full committee Mr. Lewis for their support. I must also recognize the hard work of the staff on both the majority and minority side. Kate Hallahan, Cheryle Tucker, David Napoliello, Laura Hogshead, Alex Gillen, Mark Fedor and Bob Letteney with the majority staff, and Dena Baron, David Gibbons and Jeff Goff with the minority have spent many late nights putting this bill together, and we would not be here today without their great dedication. This is a bipartisan and fiscally responsible bill. Indeed, this bill should not be partisan because a broad consensus affirming the great needs for transportation infrastructure investments and for affordable housing exists countrywide. The bill provides $50.7 billion in discretionary funding for transportation and housing programs, and is within the subcommittee's 302(b) allocation.”