Watson Coleman: “At the impressive pace the Minnesota Department of Transportation is moving toward rebuilding this essential structure…”

“At the impressive pace the Minnesota Department of Transportation is moving toward rebuilding this essential structure, this letter states the funding we have already appropriated for reconstruction will likely run out by the middle of October, thwarting the otherwise amazing progress we are making in recovery from this horrible tragedy. The Minnesota Department of Transportation will in all likelihood receive funding someday from the Federal Government to complete reconstruction of this bridge. That is not at question. We authorized that funding before we adjourned. What the amendment before us would do is simply expedite receipt of this funding so the State can continue its reconstruction process on this critical project. We all know it is not easy to pass a bill around here. The people of Minneapolis and the Twin Cities are still dealing with an emergency, and they need emergency funding now. The reconstruction of the bridge stops when the money runs out. Who knows when we will have another chance to provide funding for this horrible tragedy. The time is now. We have a Transportation appropriations bill before us with a transportation emergency in our backyard. I ask my colleagues to help us rebuild, to help us recover, and to do so today for a brighter future and a brighter tomorrow for the people of Minneapolis and the people of Minnesota, and, in fact, the people of the entire region. I urge support for the Klobuchar-Coleman amendment.”