On the recordJune 30, 2020
Let me, just for a moment, say that I would like to enter into a colloquy with Mr. DeFazio about this part of the project. It would cause the loss of 486 public housing units, 340 businesses, 5 churches, 2 schools. There are additional concerns that the community is raising and, yes, the oldest Black city in the State of Texas--maybe even in the Nation--called Independence Heights. Even a historic trail that is now law called the Emancipation Trail may be impacted. These vulnerable people are not being listened to. There is a lot going on. I ask the chairman to respond to the good elements in this bill that would be a litmus test for this project. Mr. DeFAZIO. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume to respond to the gentlewoman. I share the gentlewoman's concern. We once had--and it is not in my district, but Mr. Blumenauer's district--planned for a major new highway that would have bisected the city, affecting generally working- class and minority neighborhoods, and we got it killed by, actually, the Secretary of Transportation who was from Oregon at that time. Highway projects have a bad history of dividing our cities, and particularly segregating and dividing communities of color. So I know the gentlewoman had a specific amendment targeted at this one project, but, actually, the bill, itself, has a major focus on looking for alternatives.…
