James Oberstar: “Mr. Speaker, the bill that we are pleased to bring to the House today is strong on mobility, strong on safety, strong on…”

“Mr. Speaker, the bill that we are pleased to bring to the House today is strong on mobility, strong on safety, strong on economic development. It sustains the economic expansion that our country is experiencing. It gives us thrust to continue the international competitiveness of the nation's economy. It is a balanced bill. It is strong on transportation, including all modes of transportation, transit, alternative transportation. It protects the environment, enhances safety, ensures fair treatment for construction and transit workers, for pedestrians, for bicyclists, for disadvantaged contractors, for people trying to end their dependence on welfare through the welfare to work provisions. Most importantly, it restores trust, the trust of the American people, to the Highway Trust Fund. It, with the guarantee provision we have included in this legislation, assures that we achieve in principle the goal we have sought in practice for so long, to take the trust fund off budget, but within the budget. This is no small accomplishment.”