James Oberstar

Under other circumstances, I think that would be a very good, thoughtful suggestion. But I would prefer to have Mr. DeFazio convene a meeting of all the best think tank minds.

it is in the interests of the Federal government nationally to elevate this project.

I greatly appreciate Mr. Blumenauer who is always a fount of ideas and new initiatives.

Thank you, Mr. Heller.

We are going to build a good and strong future for transportation in America to move our economy.

This is a national emergency, and business as usual is not good enough anymore. If the purpose of this legislation is to be achieved, then we must set tight deadlines, and hold everyone accountable to them, both the federal agencies and…

This improvement of productivity, and improvement of performance, and accountability, and transparency is going to be a centerpiece of the new transportation program that we are going to write in this Committee.

While we address those needs, we also have to make sure that goods can move from rural areas into the metropolitan centers of this Country.

But still, there are $35 billion roughly. Even with those 20 or so loans made, it is grossly inadequate to the needs for the short line railroads.

We need to cut out some of this paperwork.

So what is the difference between borrowing from the Federal Railroad Administration program and borrowing in the marketplace?

Clearly had the previous Administration's proposals been implemented, the RRIF program would be in dire straits.

Why is it difficult for disadvantaged, small, minority, women-owned enterprises to discuss, in whatever forum, the discrimination they are confronting?

We can't change all of society, but we can sure change a good deal of it in this Committee and in the work that we do and the legislation that we move forward.

Can you say that without the presence of the MBE language, that much of this would not have occurred?

The purpose of today's hearing is a very serious and deeply felt need to establish a record on the need for continuation of the Disadvantaged Business Enterprise program.

That is a very important point that you have raised, about the size of contracts.

Thank you, Ms. Hall. I want to thank AGC for their very active, assertive involvement in the DBE program and for the very significant contributions AGC has made.

So people are worried about sticking their neck out of the foxhole and getting it shot off?

The issue was raised at a meeting of the Congressional Black and Hispanic Caucus, which I was participating.

The sum of the testimony of these two panels is perhaps that three centuries of discrimination cannot be overcome in two decades, and that while there are successes, as noted in the DOT testimony and testimony of the various witnesses…

We are making progress in all of these arenas and we are not going to stop.

I made it very clear to the State DOT that they are going to adhere to the DBE program and they are going to culture and nourish and support.

I assure you, when we do the long-term transportation bill, this element will be a part of it.

It is clear that the civil rights offices, from previous testimony and from this panel's testimony, need more personnel.