Political Quotes

“This amendment reduces the funding level for the National Surface Transportation and Innovation Finance Bureau to the fiscal year 2022 level, saving $6.75 million. This office was created by the FAST Act solely to help entities apply for Federal subsidies for transportation projects. It has become so complicated, and there are so many different programs, that now we have to have an entity that navigates interested parties through it. In fiscal year 2022, this program was funded at $3.8 million. In this House bill, just 2 years later, it is funded at $10.55 million. Let's think about that. We are lending out so much money from the taxpayers that we need to use taxpayer dollars to create an office to assist people looking to take those loans. This office is supposed to streamline and improve the application process for DOT's credit assistance programs, according to the Department of Transportation website. These programs, which include TIFIA and RRIF credit assistance programs, have very favorable terms for the borrower. Unfortunately, they have unfavorable terms for the taxpayer. Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time. {time} 1945”