Donald M. Payne: “It is a real honor and privilege to join both of my colleagues here for what is a very important discussion to have. I…”

“It is a real honor and privilege to join both of my colleagues here for what is a very important discussion to have. I commend Congressman Garamendi for always being passionate, considerate, and diligent on these efforts around the issues that are germane and important to this country moving forward and being successful. So I thank him for being a role model for me here in the House of Representatives. Also, I thank Mr. Price, who has been a leader. I worked with him on several occasions in North Carolina on different issues. It is good to be in both of their company on this important issue. We are here tonight on this Special Order talking about the President's infrastructure plan. It is not really much of a transportation plan at all. What President Trump has proposed is another massive giveaway to big corporations. The Trump infrastructure plan would privatize much of the Nation's infrastructure. It would replace interstate highways with tollways. It would roll back environmental protection regulations and workers' rights. It would award infrastructure grants based on how much revenue is raised locally, instead of awarding Federal grants based on the project's quality. Mr. Speaker, President Trump promised America a trillion-dollar investment in our Nation's crumbling infrastructure. But, like always, the President has not delivered. This is becoming a theme with him as we move through different issues that this Nation faces.…”