Political Quotes

“Madam Speaker, under the nearly $500 billion surface transportation reauthorization piece of H.R. 2, the Highway Trust Fund, HTF, which pays for Federal highway and transit programs, it will require a $145 billion general fund bailout to cover the cost of the majority's irresponsible spending decisions. Instead of trying to find a responsible way to pay for this huge increase in surface transportation funding and address the HTF's long- term solvency issues, the bill simply piles more debt onto future generations. Infrastructure is vital to our economy and the flow of commerce, but it is reckless to push such a massive bill that relies so heavily on more deficit spending, adds billions of dollars to programs without providing any reforms to reduce costs associated with the infrastructure project approval process, and ignores the Highway Trust Fund's solvency issue. In addition, these partisan changes to our Federal transportation programs focus more on climate change and less on building infrastructure projects, creating more uncertainty for transportation workers and businesses. Rather than kicking the can down the road and burdening future generations with the spending habits of today, we need to recognize and address inefficiencies that have lingered for far too long. By repealing the Davis-Bacon Act for transportation projects, we can stretch taxpayer dollars further while updating, improving, and advancing the development of our Nation's critical infrastructure.…”