Rodney Frelinghuysen: “In closing, I strongly urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on this responsible, necessary legislation. Let's keep the…”

“In closing, I strongly urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on this responsible, necessary legislation. Let's keep the Federal Government open for business to serve our constituents across the Nation. I yield back the balance of my time. Mr. DeFAZIO. Mr. Speaker, I voted against H.J. Res. 123, a stop-gap resolution that keeps the government open for another two weeks, through December 22, 2017. Once again Republicans, who control both the House and the Senate, cannot get their work done. Instead they continue to kick the can down the road. The resolution keeps funding transportation at last year's levels rather than the higher funding levels provided by the FAST Act for 2018, meaning it cuts the mandated increases in transportation investment by more than $950 million for Federal-aid highways and almost $200 million for public transit investment. As a result, this bill withholds $1.2 billion from Federal highway, public transit, and highway safety investments--preventing States, local governments, and public transit agencies from making critical investments, letting contracts, creating good-paying jobs, and working to relieve the Nation's crippling traffic congestion. A two-week resolution gives Republicans more time to complete their massive tax scam bill, which benefits corporations and the wealthy at the cost of middle class workers, seniors, students, and our national debt.…”