Nick Lampson: “I rise in support of H.R. 3550, the bill that provides $275 billion over the next 6 years for highways and public…”

“I rise in support of H.R. 3550, the bill that provides $275 billion over the next 6 years for highways and public transit throughout the country. Originally, the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure introduced a bill that ensured that at a $375 billion level we would be able to sustain both our Nation's infrastructure and encourage sustained commercial growth over the next decade. Well, this debate is about difficult choices. It is easy to stand in front of this House and demand more tax cuts, but it is a greater challenge to own up to our responsibilities as elected officials and to ensure that our Nation has the capability to expand our avenues of commerce. Our Nation's highway system is an irreplaceable cog in the movement of goods and services and our Nation's role in international trades. I represent a district with six seaports, and my constituents recognize the need for a seamless intermodal system that incorporates ports, rail, and highways. And I would be lying today if I said that I was not disappointed that the Republican leadership has limited the size and scope of commercial growth in this bill; yet I feel this legislation and its passage today is vital to our Nation because it represents an investment and a commitment to our infrastructure.”