I'd say we have a lot more work to do.

This is an important hearing, and I expect we will get direction today and help from our witnesses in how we can deal with this long-term, persistent problem with traffic stops.

I would like to thank the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure chair Peter DeFazio and the Subcommittee on Water and the Environment chair Grace Napolitano.

So these investments will yield huge benefits--economic benefits, returns to cities, counties, States, and the Federal Government in terms of taxes and economic activity, with good, safe growth that does not jeopardize the environment.

There are better ways to do this, innovative and interesting ways to do this, using 21st-century technology.

Today's hearing will highlight the tremendous infrastructure needs facing this nation, as well as the consequences to everyday Americans from Congress's failure to invest in our water-related infrastructure systems.

At the current level of investment, it would take 171 years to bring the existing systems up to a state of good repair, and that does not even include areas that do not have systems, like Tribal Territories and others.

We want to incentivize the wastewater districts to capture their methane, 26 times as potent as CO2 in causing climate change.

As our President says, build back better, and we are going to build back better.

We can be one again. But we can't compete with virtual slave labor, poorly maintained ships, et cetera.

Unfortunately, the maritime industry has not been included in any of these.

I said, well, how is it free when we have to compete with the Communist government of China? That is not a free market.

I supported adoption of that program as part of a T&I Committee amendment which also included assistance for port development and mariner education and training.

We cannot, and should not, have to compete with foreign-flag vessels that are flagged in countries that really don't exist, like Liberia.

I applaud President Biden for affirming support for the Jones Act; the industry needs strong Federal support in order to weather this storm.

It is essential that the U.S. maritime industry maintain a state of readiness and sustain our critical responsibility in the supply chains.

Prioritizing frontline port workers' eligibility for vaccination and ensuring adequate vaccine supply is the only sure way to safeguard the supply chain.

This President has already mentioned his strong support for the Jones Act, unlike the last one, who didn't even know what it was.

Congress is an independent entity. So we are going to accomplish his goals and some of our own.

If we don't do this, we are going to have a bigger bill for Americans to pay later.

It is urgent that we get this done before March 1st because people are going to be making life-changing decisions based on whether or not they have a job.

The chaotic, contradictory, and lackluster federal response inarguably made things much worse than they needed to be.

Thank you for holding this hearing on the important steps that need to be taken to protect all transportation users from COVID-19.

I appreciate your voice and the chairman's voice and the ranking member's voice, and all our voices, in urging President Biden to include an additional round of PSP funding in any coronavirus package.

I am thankful, however, that we now have a common-sense national strategy unveiled by the Biden administration.