On the recordApril 18, 2012
I do want to thank the ranking member. We do have a disagreement, and disagreements happen in this Chamber a lot. But anyone who's traveled our roads and highways and tried to cross bridges that have been falling apart, that are filled with potholes, that have needed repairs for, sometimes, decades recognizes the real cost and real cause of the delay. Mr. Chairman, I would note that my amendment in no way eliminates NEPA or the need for an environmental review to occur. However, our current process reduces redundant submissions, and approvals can render a road project obsolete before the ground has ever been broken. My amendment merely ensures that Federal and State governments get to actually work together in doing the review. They get to work together to do this. And unlike others, I have full confidence in the people that live in the States where this work is going to be done. They're the neighbors of these road projects. They're the ones that swim in the lakes and streams and drink the water, breathe the air. They're the ones that live there. They ought to have more say on how these projects are completed, and we can actually get more projects done because of this. I yield back the balance of my time. The CHAIR. The question is on the amendment offered by the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Ribble). The question was taken; and the Chair announced that the ayes appeared to have it.
