James Oberstar: “We are gathered here tonight because of one cataclysmic day in the storied history of aviation. Not to rescue an…”

But we all also recognize that the potential cost of meeting these needs is immense.

The Highway Trust Fund, based chiefly on the gasoline tax, will never again be adequate to fund even ongoing maintenance of our roads and bridges.

We want to protect our waters. We want to protect our wetlands. We want to provide for future generations.

Using a National Infrastructure Bank to finance a large part of our infrastructure needs means we will be able to target Federal spending more efficiently.