Bart Stupak: “I rise to highlight my amendments to the Transportation-Treasury-Independent Agencies Appropriations Act. Although they…”

“I rise to highlight my amendments to the Transportation-Treasury-Independent Agencies Appropriations Act. Although they were ruled out of order by the House Committee on Rules, I believe they warrant attention. I offered two amendments to the Rules Committee: one to require that the State of Michigan use some of their federal aid to help rehabilitate the Mackinac Bridge; and another to prohibit airlines from cutting their service if they took the most recent federal airlines' bailout money. My Mackinac Bridge amendment would have bolstered much-needed support of the largest suspension bridge in the Western Hemisphere, connecting Michigan's Lower and Upper Peninsulas. Under the Mackinac Bridge Authority's original 1956 toll agreement, the Bridge does not qualify for state apportioned federal aid. However, the Mackinac Bridge Authority, the Michigan Department of Transportation, and the Federal Highway Administration are now working to update the Bridge's toll agreement to allow it to qualify for federal aid. Should the toll agreement take effect, my Mackinac Bridge amendment would ensure the State of Michigan would use "such sums as necessary" of their state apportioned federal aid for the rehabilitation of Mackinac Bridge. My air carrier amendment would protect airports and airline passengers from increasing cuts in service.”