Ted Poe: “I wish to enter into a colloquy with the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Culberson). Houston is the fourth most populous city…”

“I wish to enter into a colloquy with the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Culberson). Houston is the fourth most populous city in the country; but unlike other large cities, we have struggled to have an effective mass transit system. Ten years ago, Houston had only buses. Wider highways were always the solution for transportation. Over the past decade, Houston has but one light rail that averages 36,000 weekly boardings. I have never been a strong champion of light rail; but my congressional district includes a significant portion of the proposed rail line in section 166, the University rail line, which would go from downtown Houston toward the Hillcroft Transit Center. A majority of my constituents in the affected area that would be served support the light rail. I am concerned about section 166 of the bill that would prohibit Federal funds from going toward a part of the University line that falls in the neighboring 7th Congressional District, Mr. Culberson's district. This language, although affecting his district primarily, indirectly affects my constituents because it has the effect of killing the whole project. Federal funds are needed to build the University line in Houston. To be clear, section 166 really doesn't save any Federal money. It just sends those funds somewhere else--maybe to New York City. If we're going to spend the money, let's keep the money in Texas and put Texans to work.…”