Political Quotes

“I rise to address legislation we hope will soon be pending on the floor of the Senate, the Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act, better known as the highway bill. This bill is dedicated to rebuilding both our highway and transportation system. It is a critical downpayment on both America's economic recovery and our long-term economic success. Infrastructure is a doubly effective investment. First, in the short term, infrastructure projects create much needed jobs, particularly now when the construction industry is flat on its back. It is one of the hardest hit sectors in this downturn. So rebuilding and repairing our crumbling roads and bridges is one of the best actions we can take to create jobs. Second, infrastructure investment supports jobs in the long term. Think of how many businesses in this country rely on America's infrastructure to move their goods to consumers-- businesses in every State of our Nation, from our most rural communities to our largest cities; small businesses, the largest corporations, and everything in between. Creating the infrastructure that gives these businesses the tools they need to grow is an essential ingredient for future job growth. Yet, over the past generation, our commitment to infrastructure funding at the Federal level has not reflected its role as a key to our competitiveness. China is spending 10 percent of its gross domestic product on infrastructure.…”