Rodney Frelinghuysen: “I rise to oppose this proposal. This issue, Mr. Chairman, ultimately comes down to congressional accountability and…”

“I rise to oppose this proposal. This issue, Mr. Chairman, ultimately comes down to congressional accountability and integrity. If Congress removes the transportation trust funds from the budget and therefore budget scrutiny, it will set forth a dangerous precedent for the other 160 trust funds under Federal jurisdiction. The progress was made in last year's budget for funding the Pell grants, veterans health care and housing improvements for our military families would be at risk if the transportation trust funds were taken off-budget. If we take this action, where are these cuts going to come from? Appropriations are not Houdini. If you tie our hands and drop us in a pool, do not expect us to get our heads above water.”