Political Quotes

“Mr. Chair, I rise in strong support of my friend and colleague, Peter DeFazio's amendment. In answer to the ranking member's inquiry, I just want to say that the definition of a livable community is Portland, Oregon. I support livability, and from the beautiful and livable State of Oregon, I know what it means for communities to adopt livability standards into their transportation planning. It means more stable economies, integrated transportation systems, and walkable streets. It means jobs. We are now 10 months past the expiration of the past highway bill, and the administration has yet to provide Congress with an authorization proposal or even to submit its long-promised authorization principles. All they offer are extension after extension. By doing this they are ignoring high-wage, middle-class, private- sector jobs generated by transportation and livability projects and engaging in legislative ``end arounds'' to spend scarce taxpayer dollars with no congressional or other needed oversight.”