Political Quotes

“I thank the gentleman for yielding. Madam Speaker, our country's roads and highways are a vital asset to our economic competitiveness. Strengthening our transportation infrastructure will, of course, make our roads and transit systems safer, but it also will support commerce, create jobs, and strengthen our Nation's economy. In my home State of Rhode Island, 20 percent of our bridges are in poor condition. Without any changes, 40 percent of the State's bridges will be structurally deficient by 2024, and, according to a report released yesterday by the White House, if Congress fails to act, over 3,500 jobs in Rhode Island will be jeopardized. This should not be allowed to happen, and Congress has a responsibility to provide the funding for these important transportation projects. The highway trust fund is a critical resource that supports the building and repairing of our roads, highways and bridges, and hundreds of thousands of jobs all across our country. Although I support acting quickly to replenish the highway trust fund, I am very disappointed that this bill is being brought up under a closed rule, ensuring that we cannot consider alternative and more robust funding mechanisms. Although the Highway and Transportation Funding Act presents a solution that will extend surface transportation authorization until next May and ensure the highway trust fund does not become insolvent next month, a short-term solution is not enough.…”