Political Quotes

“Mr. Chairman, I rise to offer an amendment to provide $11.5 billion to fund emergency infrastructure repairs related to the National Park Service deferred maintenance backlog. Mr. Chair, earlier this month, the National Park Service, at the recommendation of the Department of Transportation, took the precautionary measure of closing two lanes on the iconic Arlington Memorial Bridge, one of the most important entrances to the Nation's Capital and a major artery for many of my constituents commuting to work every day. The crisis of the Memorial Bridge, whose replacement will cost a startling $250 million, demonstrates the degradation of park infrastructure throughout the country. It also shows the extent of the backlog and the need to provide funds to ensure reliability for the economy as well as the safety of the public. The backlog has also grown because of a steady decline in the construction account. Over the last decade, there has been a 62 percent decline, $227 million in today's dollars. The Park Service receives only 58 cents out of every dollar needed just to keep the backlog from growing. Mr. Chair, the United States is the richest country in the history of mankind. We are the democratic leader, the military leader, the human rights leader, the financial leader of all the world. Can we not also be the investment leader? This country needs to be the country that invests in our infrastructure today for our children and our grandchildren tomorrow. Mr.…”