Emanuel Cleaver: “Thank you, Mr. Blumenauer. Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the opportunity to be here, particularly with Mr. Blumenauer and…”

“Thank you, Mr. Blumenauer. Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the opportunity to be here, particularly with Mr. Blumenauer and Mr. Garamendi, who spoke earlier, because they have long histories--longer, in fact, than I have been in the House--of pushing for transportation issues. I think that this is a rather sad and somewhat tragic moment in our history. The interstate highway system was developed and put in place in 1956, and who would have thought when we entered the 21st century that the Congress of the United States would fail to keep that system in top condition? The transportation bill affects Americans in every State of this country. A robust Federal investment in transportation is an economic engine, strengthening hundreds of communities. The thing that I have said often in my district and, frankly, in hearings is that the best stimulus for the economy--the very best stimulus--is a transportation bill. The weird thing is that the infrastructure is the backbone of our economy upon which businesses, families, and communities thrive. Everyone is involved in this. Red or blue, urban or rural, we all rely on transportation and infrastructure. Ensuring economic prosperity is of paramount importance. It is not a Republican or a Democratic goal but one that we all share.…”