[Senate Hearing 117-160]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]


                                                       S. Hrg. 117-160

                            BUSINESS MEETING

=======================================================================

                                MEETING

                                 OF THE

                              COMMITTEE ON
                      ENVIRONMENT AND PUBLIC WORKS

                          UNITED STATES SENATE

                    ONE HUNDRED SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS

                             FIRST SESSION

                               __________

                              MAY 26, 2021

                               __________

  Printed for the use of the Committee on Environment and Public Works
  
[GRAPHIC NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT]  


        Available via the World Wide Web: http://www.govinfo.gov
        
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                    U.S. GOVERNMENT PUBLISHING OFFICE                    
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               COMMITTEE ON ENVIRONMENT AND PUBLIC WORKS

                    ONE HUNDRED SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS

                             FIRST SESSION

                  THOMAS R. CARPER, Delaware, Chairman
BENJAMIN L. CARDIN, Maryland         SHELLEY MOORE CAPITO, West 
BERNARD SANDERS, Vermont                 Virginia, 
SHELDON WHITEHOUSE, Rhode Island         Ranking Member
JEFF MERKLEY, Oregon                 JAMES M. INHOFE, Oklahoma
EDWARD J. MARKEY, Massachusetts      KEVIN CRAMER, North Dakota
TAMMY DUCKWORTH, Illinois            CYNTHIA M. LUMMIS, Wyoming
DEBBIE STABENOW, Michigan            RICHARD SHELBY, Alabama
MARK KELLY, Arizona                  JOHN BOOZMAN, Arkansas
ALEX PADILLA, California             ROGER WICKER, Mississippi
                                     DAN SULLIVAN, Alaska
                                     JONI ERNST, Iowa
                                     LINDSEY O. GRAHAM, South Carolina

             Mary Frances Repko, Democratic Staff Director
               Adam Tomlinson, Republican Staff Director
                            
                            C O N T E N T S

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                                                                   Page

                              MAY 26, 2021
                           OPENING STATEMENTS

Carper, Hon. Thomas R., U.S. Senator from the State of Delaware..     1
Capito, Hon. Shelley Moore, U.S. Senator from the State of West 
  Virginia.......................................................     3
Stabenow, Hon. Debbie, U.S. Senator from the State of Michigan, 
  prepared statement.............................................    17

                              LEGISLATION

Amendments to the Surface Transportation Reauthorization Act of 
  2021:
    Carper #2, To modify a provision relating to the maturity 
      date of certain secured loans under the TIFIA program......    24
    Cardin #3, To improve resilience improvement grants under the 
      PROTECT program............................................    26
    Cardin #6, To improve the INFRA program......................    29
    Duckworth #2, To raise the cap on funds spent on compilation 
      and analysis of data for reporting on railway-highway 
      crossings..................................................    32
    Duckworth #5, To apply certain Federal requirements to 
      airport-related projects under the TIFIA program...........    33
    Ernst #4, To require recipients of Federal funds from the 
      Department of Transportation to disclose information 
      relating to programs, projects, or activities carried out 
      using Federal funds........................................    34
    Graham #1, To modify the definition of the term ``Appalachian 
      region''...................................................    37
    Inhofe #3, To set aside funding under the rural surface 
      transportation grant program for States with higher than 
      average rural roadway lane departure fatalities............    39
    Kelly #1, To direct the Secretary of Transportation to 
      establish a working group to conduct a study on access to 
      certain resources for infrastructure projects..............    41
    Lummis #2, To expand eligibility for the advanced 
      transportation technologies deployment program.............    46
    Lummis #3, To modify project eligibility for the carbon 
      reduction program..........................................    48
    Markey #5, To direct the Secretary of Transportation to carry 
      out an active transportation investment program to make 
      grants to eligible applicants to build safe and connected 
      options for bicycles and walkers within and between 
      communities................................................    50
    Merkley #2, To require the Secretary of Transportation to 
      establish a program to provide grants to carry out 
      activities to benefit pollinators on roadsides and highway 
      rights-of-way, including planting and seeding of native, 
      locally-appropriate grasses and wildflowers, including 
      milkweed...................................................    61
    Padilla #2, To permit blood transport vehicles to use HOV 
      facilities.................................................    68
    Padilla #4, To improve the PROTECT program...................    69
    Sullivan #1, To authorize appropriations for the Denali 
      access system program......................................    71
    Sullivan #2, To modify a provision relating to rural barge 
      landing, dock, and waterfront infrastructure projects......    72
    Whitehouse #1, To ensure that large projects under the bridge 
      investment program can receive grants in the first year of 
      the program................................................    73
    Wicker #1, To designate an additional high priority corridor.    77
Nomination Reference and Report:
    PN444, Radhika Fox, of California, to be an Assistant 
      Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency.......    79
    PN407, Michal Ilana Freedhoff, of Maryland, to be Assistant 
      Administrator for Toxic Substances of the Environmental 
      Protection Agency..........................................    80
    PN374, Shannon Aneal Estenoz, of Florida, to be Assistant 
      Secretary for Fish and Wildlife............................    81
General Services Administration Resolutions......................    82

                          ADDITIONAL MATERIAL

Letter to Senators Carper and Capito from the Advocates for 
  Highway and Auto Safety, May 28, 2021..........................   102
Letter to Senators Carper and Capito from the Truck Safety 
  Coalition, May 28, 2021........................................   106

 
                            BUSINESS MEETING

                              ----------                              


                        WEDNESDAY, MAY 26, 2021

                                       U.S. Senate,
                 Committee on Environment and Public Works,
                                                    Washington, DC.
    The Committee, met, pursuant to notice, at 9:46 a.m. in 
room 301, Russell Senate Office Building, Hon. Thomas R. Carper 
(Chairman of the Committee) presiding.
    Present: Senators Carper, Capito, Cardin, Sanders, 
Whitehouse, Merkley, Markey, Duckworth, Stabenow, Kelly, 
Padilla, Inhofe, Cramer, Lummis, Boozman, Wicker, Sullivan, 
Ernst, and Graham.

          OPENING STATEMENT OF HON. THOMAS R. CARPER, 
            U.S. SENATOR FROM THE STATE OF DELAWARE

    Senator Carper. I understand we have a quorum this morning.
    Senator Capito, if you are ready to rock and roll, I think 
I am, as well.
    I am happy to call this business meeting to order as we 
prepare to consider three nominations, 10 General Services 
Administration measures, and our bipartisan surface 
transportation reauthorization bill.
    I want to begin by observing that the three nominees whose 
names are before us, Shannon Estenoz, Radhika Fox, and Michal 
Freedhoff, are all extremely well qualified for the positions 
to which they have been nominated. When our Committee met a few 
weeks ago to hear from the nominees, it was, for me, wonderful. 
It was heartwarming to just be joined by a panel of such 
bright, dedicated, well spoken public servants and by numbers 
of their families.
    It was, for some of us, especially special to hear from 
Michal Freedhoff, Dr. Michal Freedhoff, who served as an 
invaluable member of our EPW team and as a key advisor to 
Senator Markey and to me for some time. I am grateful that 
Michal and her fellow nominees, Radhika and Shannon, are 
willing to serve in these new roles. I know that our Nation 
will be the better for it. I strongly urge all of our 
colleagues to join me today in advancing their nominations to 
the full Senate.
    I am also pleased that we are considering a set of 10 
General Services Administration measures, which we will be 
considering en bloc. These are common sense resolutions that I 
hope all of us will support.
    Now, I would like to spend the remainder of my time this 
morning briefly addressing our surface transportation 
reauthorization bill that we are considering here today.
    The Surface Transportation Reauthorization Act of 2021 is 
the result of months of hard work and genuine team effort on 
which I am pleased to join with Senator Capito, Senator Cardin, 
Senator Cramer, our respective staffs, and many members of this 
Committee. The bill before us today is a testament to our 
team's relentless drive and tireless commitment to crafting a 
bipartisan agreement that will enable us to create a 
transportation system that the 21st century will require if the 
U.S. is to remain a leader among nations.
    This reauthorization bill before us today calls for 
historic levels of highway funding, $303.5 billion worth over 
the next 5 years. That is about 34, 35 percent above the last 5 
year reauthorization for surface transportation.
    This bill also commits $18 billion toward reducing our 
carbon emissions, as well as $500 million to mitigate climate 
impacts on the most vulnerable among us, typically communities 
of color, tribal communities, and other disadvantaged 
communities. The bill would also provide $500 million to 
upgrade our existing transportation infrastructure to withstand 
the inevitable effects of our changing climate.
    As most of us know, the transportation sector is the 
largest source of carbon emissions in our Nation. So if we want 
to preserve our planet for our children and grandchildren, and 
I know we do, it is imperative that we tackle this major 
contributor to the climate crisis. This bill before us today 
helps put us on the right track with an $18 billion climate 
title, of which $2.5 billion is dedicated to building electric 
vehicle charging and hydrogen fueling stations on highways and 
in locations like schools, workplaces, parks, and publicly 
accessible areas for communities.
    Our bill also tackles another serious challenge, that of 
safety. Bicycling and walking are affordable and healthy modes 
of transportation, but far too many Americans live in 
neighborhoods where there are no safe bike lanes or crosswalks. 
In 2019 alone, over 7,000 pedestrians and bicyclists lost their 
lives in traffic accidents, just in 1 year.
    So, I am delighted that our bill provides a 70 percent 
increase in funding for programs that develop safe, accessible 
pedestrian and bicycle pathways across our Nation while also 
committing to providing $16.8 billion in funding for highway 
safety improvements.
    The third challenge our bill seeks to address is historic 
inequity in transportation investments. We know that past 
investments in transportation programs have left far too many 
Americans, especially those in communities of color, behind. To 
that end, our bill focuses on investments to lift up all 
communities.
    That is why we have included provisions from the 
Reconnecting Communities Act, legislation I co-authored with 
Senators Van Hollen and Cardin to address past transportation 
infrastructure projects that have divided and harmed too many 
neighborhoods across our Nation. In my hometown of Wilmington, 
Delaware, construction of I-95 in the 1960s and 1970s through 
the city literally tore many communities apart, cutting off 
access to neighborhoods, parks, and economic opportunity. We 
can begin to help heal those wounds with the projects we enable 
in this legislation.
    I am proud that our bill focuses on these critical issues 
of climate, safety, and equity and does so in a bipartisan way 
that will put our transportation programs on the right track 
for the next 5 years.
    The work doesn't stop here. It is imperative that our 
sister Senate committees, Banking, Commerce, and Finance, act 
quickly on their portions of surface transportation 
reauthorization so we can get this bill across the finish line 
before the current law expires on September 30th.
    I will continue to work with our colleagues on those 
committees to encourage them to act without delay, especially 
since we have taken action here in record time with our highway 
bill.
    The fast timeline that led to this markup today is not by 
chance; it is a reflection of our commitment to getting the 
work done, a commitment shared by President Biden. Back in 
February, the President invited Senator Capito, Senator Inhofe, 
Senator Cardin, and me to the White House to discuss surface 
transportation reauthorization. I think that may have been his 
first meeting with members of the U.S. Senate following his 
inauguration. He asked us if we could get this bill done by 
Memorial Day. Originally thought we maybe could get it done by 
July 4th, but we are working hard to try to reach the goal of 
Memorial Day. Today, we are poised to deliver on that request.
    Let me be clear, though: There is still a lot of work to be 
done on infrastructure in this Congress. We know that. The 
President's jobs plan identifies a number of transformational 
investments to strengthen our economy. They include much more 
than we could ever cover within our Committee's jurisdiction 
and within this bill, from clean energy tax credits to 
intercity passenger rail to transit, and much more.
    The first step in realizing that vision is ensuring that 
our transportation programs are running smoothly and working 
efficiently, and that is why our surface transportation bill is 
so critical. With this legislation, we can begin to modernize 
our highway programs and do so with policies to address safety, 
equity, and climate at the same time and create one heck of a 
lot of jobs. It is a vital foundation for the President's 
American Jobs Plan and a remarkable bipartisan achievement.
    With that, I want to turn to my friend, my West Virginia 
buddy, and our colleague, our Ranking Member with whom I have 
been privileged to work on this legislation. I just want to say 
to everybody who has been a part of this, thank you. Terrific 
job. We have had this kind of leadership demonstrated when 
Senator Inhofe was in charge of this Committee, and by working 
with Barbara Boxer and others, we have had it with John 
Barrasso, and I think we have done it again, and hopefully we 
will still be saying that an hour from now, but I think we are 
off to a good start. Today, I want to thank everyone who has 
responsible for that.
    Senator Capito.

        OPENING STATEMENT OF HON. SHELLEY MOORE CAPITO, 
          U.S. SENATOR FROM THE STATE OF WEST VIRGINIA

    Senator Capito. Thank you, Chairman Carper, and thank 
everybody who is here today, for calling this business meeting 
and for your ongoing commitment to a bipartisan process for 
this bill that we are considering today, the Surface 
Transportation Reauthorization Act of 2021.
    I have always been optimistic that we would get here, but I 
am absolutely thrilled that we reached a bipartisan agreement 
that will address our Nation's surface transportation needs.
    I also want to provide special thanks to Senator Cardin and 
to Senator Cramer, who lead the Subcommittee on Transportation 
and Infrastructure. Their support and partnership during this 
process was absolutely instrumental in helping us to reach an 
agreement, so thank you both.
    I also want to thank your staff, Mr. Chairman. I know they 
have spent a lot of long nights, for their commitment to this 
process and for the long hours and hard work that they have 
dedicated to this bill.
    Today proves, once again, that we can come together to 
develop a bill that reflects input from both parties and the 
stakeholder communities. This has been one of my top priorities 
as Ranking Member of this Committee.
    Since the start of this process, I have been focused on 
policies that, one, enable long term investment in our Nation's 
roads and bridges in a fiscally responsible manner; two, 
provide certainty and flexibility for our States and other 
partners; and three, keep the Federal interest focused on 
providing a connected network of roads and bridges to ensure 
that all communities and economies can thrive.
    Additionally, I have been looking to facilitate the 
efficient delivery of projects in order to improve the safety 
and resiliency of our surface transportation system and to 
drive innovation to help pave the way for the surface 
transportation system of the future.
    I am proud to say that this bill meets many and 
accomplishes many of these goals.
    I would like to take a few minutes to share some of the 
highlights of our bipartisan legislation.
    It is a 5 year bill that presents significant funding 
levels, $303.5 billion out of the Highway Trust Fund. It will 
ensure long term investment in our Nation's roads and bridges 
while providing States and communities the flexibility that 
they need to address their unique transportation needs.
    The bill will distribute 90 percent of total funding to 
States through formula, giving the States the flexibility and 
the certainty necessary to get those projects in the years 
ahead. This funding distribution will benefit all parts of the 
country, including both urban and rural areas.
    I am particularly excited about the $2 billion Rural 
Surface Transportation Grant Program that will provide 
competitive grants for projects that increase connectivity and 
generate economic growth in rural America.
    Among the projects eligible for a grant under this program 
are projects that will further the completion of the 
Appalachian Development Highway System. Completing this ADHS is 
absolutely essential to me and to my home State of West 
Virginia. Finishing this will better connect West Virginia and 
will open up significant economic opportunities. Passage of 
this bill is a big step in that direction.
    This bill will provide significant funding for bridges 
through a new grant program, which also is important to my 
State and everybody's State here, and certainly in Delaware, as 
well.
    The bill also provides provisions that will improve the 
project delivery process for our States and other partners.
    Notably, we codified the One Federal Decision, which will 
provide more accountability to the environmental review and 
permitting process by including page limits and joint agency 
schedules for projects within the goal of completing 
environmental reviews in 2 years.
    This bill also requires reporting timelines on NEPA, which 
is the National Environmental Permitting Authority. This 
reduces our paperwork burdens and provides opportunities for 
the adoption of categorical exclusions between agencies through 
rulemaking.
    Safety, as the Chairman says, is a top priority that we all 
share. To address a variety of safety needs, we increased 
funding of the Highway Safety Improvement Program and provided 
State funding that carry out resiliency improvements to their 
roads and bridges and improve evacuation routes.
    There is a lot in this bill for both sides and for all 
communities, no matter the size or region in the country. It 
represents the true give and take, I think, of bipartisan 
compromise.
    Most importantly, it will drive economic growth and in the 
future create jobs while also improving the quality of life of 
those in our country.
    We share a common goal: Getting a bipartisan 
reauthorization bill across the finish line before the 
expiration of the FAST Act. Today is an important step in that 
process.
    Finally, today the Committee will be voting on other 
important Committee matters, including 10 GSA resolutions. I am 
pleased to support the nominations of Shannon Estenoz to be 
Assistant Secretary for Fish and Wildlife and Parks to the 
Department of Interior, Michal Freedhoff to be Assistant 
Administrator for Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention at 
EPA.
    While I have enjoyed getting to know Radhika Fox and am 
impressed by her qualifications, she would not commit to 
maintaining the Navigable Waters Protection Rule issued in 
2020, but she also would not state that the 2015 Waters of the 
U.S. Rule was overreaching; very vague in her answers. So, for 
that policy reason, I cannot support her nomination today.
    Thank you, Mr. Chairman, and I yield back my time.
    Senator Carper. Well, two out of three ain't bad. Thank 
you.
    Speaking of nominations, let's go through three of them 
right now.
    Next, I want to call up Presidential Nomination 444, 
Radhika Fox, of California, to be Assistant Administrator for 
Water of the Environmental Protection Agency.
    I move to approve and report the nomination favorably to 
the Senate.
    Is there a second?
    Senator Cardin. Second.
    Senator Carper. It has been moved and seconded.
    The Clerk will call the roll.
    The Clerk. Mr. Boozman.
    Senator Boozman. No.
    The Clerk. Mrs. Capito.
    Senator Carper. I am sorry. This is Radhika Fox. I will 
give you a third chance if you want.
    Proceed with the roll call.
    Senator Capito. No.
    The Clerk. Mr. Cardin.
    Senator Cardin. Aye.
    The Clerk. Mr. Cramer.
    Senator Cramer. Aye.
    The Clerk. Ms. Duckworth.
    Senator Duckworth. Aye.
    The Clerk. Ms. Ernst.
    Senator Ernst. No.
    The Clerk. Mr. Graham.
    Senator Graham. Aye.
    The Clerk. Mr. Inhofe.
    Senator Inhofe. No.
    The Clerk. Mr. Kelly.
    Senator Kelly. Aye.
    The Clerk. Ms. Lummis.
    Senator Lummis. Aye.
    The Clerk. Mr. Markey.
    Senator Markey. Aye.
    The Clerk. Mr. Merkley.
    Senator Merkley. Aye.
    The Clerk. Mr. Padilla.
    Senator Padilla. Aye.
    The Clerk. Mr. Sanders.
    Senator Sanders. Aye.
    The Clerk. Mr. Shelby.
    Senator Capito. No by proxy.
    The Clerk. Ms. Stabenow.
    Senator Stabenow. Aye.
    The Clerk. Mr. Sullivan.
    Senator Sullivan. No.
    The Clerk. Mr. Whitehouse.
    Senator Whitehouse. Aye.
    The Clerk. Mr. Wicker.
    Senator Wicker. Aye.
    The Clerk. Mr. Chairman.
    Senator Carper. Aye.
    The Clerk. Mr. Chairman, the yeas are 14, the nays are 6.
    Senator Carper. With that, the nomination has been 
approved, and we report the nomination favorably to the Senate.
    Next, I want to call up Presidential Nomination 407, Dr. 
Michal Ilana Freedhoff. I have known Michal for a number of 
years. I didn't know she had a middle name, and it is Ilana, 
Eddie. Michal has worked closely with a lot of us and our 
staffs. Michal has been nominated to be Assistant Administrator 
for Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention of the 
Environmental Protection Agency.
    I move to approve and report the nomination favorably to 
the Senate.
    Is there a second?
    Senator Capito. Second.
    Senator Carper. The Clerk will call the roll.
    The Clerk. Mr. Boozman.
    Senator Boozman. Yes.
    The Clerk. Mrs. Capito.
    Senator Capito. Yes.
    The Clerk. Mr. Cardin.
    Senator Cardin. Aye.
    The Clerk. Mr. Cramer.
    Senator Cramer. Aye.
    The Clerk. Ms. Duckworth.
    Senator Duckworth. Aye.
    The Clerk. Ms. Ernst.
    Senator Ernst. Aye.
    The Clerk. Mr. Graham.
    Senator Graham. Aye.
    The Clerk. Mr. Inhofe.
    Senator Inhofe. Aye.
    The Clerk. Mr. Kelly.
    Senator Kelly. Aye.
    The Clerk. Ms. Lummis.
    Senator Lummis. Aye.
    The Clerk. Mr. Markey.
    Senator Markey. Aye.
    The Clerk. Mr. Merkley.
    Senator Merkley. Aye.
    The Clerk. Mr. Padilla.
    Senator Padilla. Aye.
    The Clerk. Mr. Sanders.
    Senator Sanders. Aye.
    The Clerk. Mr. Shelby.
    Senator Capito. Aye by proxy.
    The Clerk. Ms. Stabenow.
    Senator Stabenow. Aye.
    The Clerk. Mr. Sullivan.
    Senator Sullivan. No.
    The Clerk. Mr. Whitehouse.
    Senator Whitehouse. Aye.
    The Clerk. Mr. Wicker.
    Senator Wicker. Aye.
    The Clerk. Mr. Chairman.
    Senator Carper. Aye.
    The Clerk. Mr. Chairman, the yeas are 19, the nays are 1.
    Senator Carper. The nomination is approved. Thank you all.
    The final nomination we consider this morning is 
Presidential Nomination 374, Shannon Estenoz, of Florida, to be 
Assistant Secretary of Fish and Wildlife and Parks of the 
Department of the Interior.
    I move to approve and report the nomination favorably to 
the Senate.
    Is there a second?
    Senator Sanders. Second.
    Senator Carper. Moved and seconded. The Clerk will call the 
roll.
    The Clerk. Mr. Boozman.
    Senator Boozman. Yes.
    The Clerk. Mrs. Capito.
    Senator Capito. Aye.
    The Clerk. Mr. Cardin.
    Senator Cardin. Aye.
    The Clerk. Mr. Cramer.
    Senator Cramer. Aye.
    The Clerk. Ms. Duckworth.
    Senator Duckworth. Aye.
    The Clerk. Ms. Ernst.
    Senator Ernst. Yes.
    The Clerk. Mr. Graham.
    Senator Graham. Aye.
    The Clerk. Mr. Inhofe.
    Senator Inhofe. Aye.
    The Clerk. Mr. Kelly.
    Senator Kelly. Aye.
    The Clerk. Ms. Lummis.
    Senator Lummis. Aye.
    The Clerk. Mr. Markey.
    Senator Markey. Aye.
    The Clerk. Mr. Merkley.
    Senator Merkley. Aye.
    The Clerk. Mr. Padilla.
    Senator Padilla. Aye.
    The Clerk. Mr. Sanders.
    Senator Sanders. Aye.
    The Clerk. Mr. Shelby.
    Senator Capito. Aye by proxy.
    The Clerk. Ms. Stabenow.
    Senator Stabenow. Aye.
    The Clerk. Mr. Sullivan.
    Senator Sullivan. No.
    The Clerk. Mr. Whitehouse.
    Senator Whitehouse. Aye.
    The Clerk. Mr. Wicker.
    Senator Wicker. Aye.
    The Clerk. Mr. Chairman.
    Senator Carper. Aye.
    The Clerk. Mr. Chairman, the yeas are 19, the nays are 1.
    Senator Carper. And with that, the nomination is confirmed.
    Colleagues, thank you all. There were three terrific 
nominees, and I am delighted that they are going to have the 
opportunity to serve us and to work with us going forward.
    I would like now to turn to the Surface Transportation 
Reauthorization Act of 2021. On Saturday, I circulated 
legislation that had been developed with Senator Capito and her 
staff. Since that time, we have worked to refine the 
legislation. Those refinements are embodied in the Carper-
Capito-Cardin-Cramer Substitute Amendment that was circulated 
to all offices yesterday. This amendment represents non-
controversial changes from the legislation circulated on 
Saturday. By unanimous consent, the substitute amendment is 
considered the base text for purpose of today's markup.
    Hearing no objections, so ordered.
    Senator Whitehouse. Mr. Chairman.
    Senator Carper. Yes.
    Senator Whitehouse. Reserving the right to object.
    Senator Carper. Yes, go ahead.
    Senator Whitehouse. May I note that I would like it 
recorded that were there a vote in this matter, I would be a no 
vote on the provision embedded in this amendment that creates 
first and second class States for purposes of the INFRA 
Program. But I will not object.
    Senator Carper. I thank the colleague.
    I understand Senator Markey has an amendment he would like 
to offer; is that right, Senator Markey?
    Senator Markey. Yes. I have an amendment, Mr. Chairman. It 
is Markey No. 5.
    Senator Carper. Please offer your amendment.
    Senator Markey. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. This amendment is 
a bipartisan proposal I am making for myself and Senator 
Sullivan, which would insert a modified version of our 
legislation, the Connecting America's Active Transportation 
System Act, as a new program in the Surface Transportation 
Reauthorization Act.
    Our amendment will dedicate $200 million in Federal funds 
annually for grants to connect walking and biking 
infrastructure into active transportation networks that allow 
people to reach destinations within a community, as well as 
travel between communities without needing a car. Obviously, it 
also has a big impact on recreational sport biking and skiing 
and bike trails and other trails that would also be 
constructed. So it is something that is applicable to every 
State in our country.
    Adding this bipartisan legislation to our overall package 
is both common sense and essential. So I urge support for this 
amendment because no matter your age, your ability, people will 
be able to reach their destinations through affordable and 
healthy travel options, so I thank you, Mr. Chairman.
    Senator Carper. Yes.
    Senator Sullivan, would you like to comment, please?
    Senator Sullivan. Chairman, yes, thank you. I want to thank 
my friend, Senator Markey, for his leadership on this 
amendment. For all of us who love the great outdoors, this is a 
great opportunity to have more trails for pedestrians and 
bikes. This is something that is very much looked upon 
favorably in my State, and I think in most States here, 
particularly as people are trying to get outside after the 
pandemic.
    We worked with everybody. There were some concerns on my 
side of the aisle that there was too much dedicated to this, so 
we scaled back the amendment quite a lot, actually. So I would 
encourage strong bipartisan vote on this Markey-Sullivan 
Amendment.
    Senator Carper. Anyone else care to comment on this?
    Senator Capito. Thank you, Mr. Chairman, and I thank you.
    But for the bipartisan amendment, I unfortunately for you 
all will be opposing this amendment for several reasons. It is 
not because I am anti-bike or pedestrian trails. If you look at 
the guts of this bill that we worked on, we took very careful 
considerations to include new programs and modifications to 
existing programs that I think will advance the goals of this 
amendment.
    Significantly, the bill increases the amount of funding for 
transportation alternatives. It was, I believe, at 4.2 in the 
previous iteration. Also, it provides $7.2 billion, the bill 
that we are voting on right now, for eligible projects, 
including bicycle and pedestrian projects and recreational 
trail projects. It also provides another $6.4 billion for the 
new carbon reduction program, which also has eligibilities for 
bicycle and pedestrian projects.
    There are also new requirements in here for our States and 
our metropolitan planning organization to fund activities for 
complete streets, which are defined as providing the ``safe and 
adequate accommodation of pedestrians and bicycles, among other 
users.'' There were three examples there of where we have 
addressed, I think, what the gentlemen's amendment is trying to 
achieve.
    So I see the amendment as duplicative and unnecessary. It 
is another billion dollars. I appreciate the fact that the 
amount is less than the original amendment, but I do believe 
that we have dedicated not just policy, but a lot of funding to 
achieve the goals of this amendment, so I would strongly urge a 
no vote.
    Senator Carper. Senator Duckworth.
    Senator Duckworth. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I just wanted 
to speak in support of the amendment.
    One of the things that we haven't discussed here is the 
fact that these types of initiatives actually help people with 
disabilities significantly by creating an interconnected rail-
pedestrian transportation infrastructure network. What you are 
actually doing is creating a new infrastructure for people who 
use wheelchairs and would like to be able to move around more 
easily.
    If we just depend on existing transportation 
infrastructure, it is never quite enough. You are waiting for 
current transit to come; they only come once or twice. You 
can't get to a bus stop always.
    So having something like this will actually allow persons 
with disabilities greater freedom, greater access, which is 
going to be ever more relevant as our baby boomers age and 
become--the population of people who are going to be using 
wheelchairs and assistive movement devices is only going to be 
growing. We are going to see a huge increase in the 
demographics of this country.
    So I really do support this amendment because it will have 
that effect of helping persons with disabilities.
    Senator Markey. Does the Senator yield?
    Senator Duckworth. I do.
    Senator Markey. I thank the Senator. Her point is correct. 
This isn't creating just isolated bike paths. This is actually 
connecting everything together, so that there is kind of an 
interoperability of our transportation system, especially for 
those that need it the most.
    So you are right on point in terms of what the goal of this 
is. It is a new program with something that is much needed.
    Senator Carper. Would other Senators like to be recognized 
on this amendment?
    Hearing none, will the Clerk will please call the roll?
    The Clerk. Mr. Boozman.
    Senator Boozman. No.
    The Clerk. Mrs. Capito.
    Senator Capito. No.
    The Clerk. Mr. Cardin.
    Senator Cardin. Aye.
    The Clerk. Mr. Cramer.
    Senator Cramer. No.
    The Clerk. Ms. Duckworth.
    Senator Duckworth. Aye.
    The Clerk. Ms. Ernst.
    Senator Ernst. No.
    The Clerk. Mr. Graham.
    Senator Graham. No.
    The Clerk. Mr. Inhofe.
    Senator Inhofe. No.
    The Clerk. Mr. Kelly.
    Senator Kelly. Aye.
    The Clerk. Ms. Lummis.
    Senator Lummis. No.
    The Clerk. Mr. Markey.
    Senator Markey. Aye.
    The Clerk. Mr. Merkley.
    Senator Merkley. Aye.
    The Clerk. Mr. Padilla.
    Senator Padilla. Aye.
    The Clerk. Mr. Sanders.
    Senator Sanders. Aye.
    The Clerk. Mr. Shelby.
    Senator Capito. No by proxy.
    The Clerk. Ms. Stabenow.
    Senator Stabenow. Aye.
    The Clerk. Mr. Sullivan.
    Senator Sullivan. Aye.
    The Clerk. Mr. Whitehouse.
    Senator Whitehouse. Aye.
    The Clerk. Mr. Wicker.
    Senator Wicker. No.
    The Clerk. Mr. Chairman.
    Senator Carper. Aye.
    The Clerk. Mr. Chairman, the yeas are 11, the nays are 9.
    Senator Carper. The amendment is agreed to.
    To Senator Capito's point, we have nothing to be ashamed of 
in this bill, even without the Markey Amendment, with the 
moneys that we are investing in this very area, and I just want 
to make that clear. For some, this was a bridge too far, but 
the amendment has passed, so now we are going to move on.
    More than 90 amendments were filed on this legislation, 
over 90. Over the last 24 hours, the Committee staff have 
determined which of these amendments are non-controversial and 
acceptable to both sides. Most of them are.
    This morning, the Committee had circulated a list of these 
amendments. Senator Capito and I have agreed that these 
amendments can be considered en bloc by unanimous consent.
    With that, I would ask unanimous consent to adopt en bloc 
the amendments identified on the list provided to your offices 
this morning, and I would make a note that--I think Senator 
Whitehouse, Sheldon, do you want to reserve the right to object 
in order to make a brief statement, or did you already have a 
chance? Fair enough.
    Hearing no objection, then, so ordered.
    I want to thank Sheldon for what you have done today.
    I want to thank all members for their engagement on this 
bill. I know that there are still a number of important issues 
that need to be resolved or improved, and I hope to continue 
work with all of you on these important issues as the process 
moves forward.
    To paraphrase, Winston Churchill bounced out of office at 
the end of World War II. The next election, he was leaving 10 
Downing Street, and was asked by a reporter, he said, ``Mr. 
Churchill, for you, is this the end?'' Famously, he replied: 
``This is not the end; this is not the beginning of the end. 
This is the end of the beginning.''
    So it is here. This is the end of the beginning. We still 
have plenty of work to do, but one hell of a lot of work has 
been done, and I am deeply grateful to all who have been a part 
of that.
    Hold on just for a second.
    I understand that Senator Cardin has an amendment that he 
would like to discuss.
    Senator Cardin, please.
    Senator Cardin. Yes. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. First, I 
really want to strongly endorse this bill. I want to thank the 
Chairman and the Ranking Member for continuing the great 
tradition of this Committee. It is a pleasure to work with 
Senator Cramer on the Subcommittee. I strongly endorse the 
bill.
    I am going to call up Cardin Amendment No. 1, but I will 
not be asking for a vote on this amendment. Cardin Amendment 
No. 1 would add funds to critical programs that are in this 
bill to be in line with President Biden's American Jobs Plan. 
It increases our investment in bridges so that we can begin to 
address the backlog we face across the country. It increases 
funding for the Transportation Alternative Program, which is so 
important to local communities to upgrade sidewalks, bike 
paths, and improve safety. It adds $14.5 billion to 
reconnecting community pilot program.
    We had a hearing in our Subcommittee in which many 
communities brought forward the highways to nowhere, including 
one in Baltimore City that we need to address. It adds more 
money for electric vehicle charging infrastructure, which will 
create jobs as well as reduce emissions from transportation, 
the leading source of greenhouse gases in this country. I know 
Senator Stabenow has been one of our great champions on this 
issue.
    It adds resources for the INFRA Program so that we can 
continue to address freight issues and bottlenecks to improve 
efficiency and competitiveness in our economy. It adds funding 
for work force training so that Americans are ready to 
participate and take advantage of the job opportunities we will 
create. It adds resources for safety, which is critical 
priority.
    This year, our goal is to make a generational investment in 
our Nation's infrastructure, and this Committee has a central 
role to play in that effort. I am sure every member of this 
Committee is tired of infrastructure reports where we get poor 
grades. The bill we are considering today takes a critical 
first step, but there is more we can do to answer the call to 
build back better.
    So I will not be asking for a vote on this amendment, but 
as a member of this Committee and as Chair of the 
Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, I will continue to 
work to advance important transportation infrastructure 
projects.
    Senator Carper. Senator Cardin, thank you for your 
leadership of our Subcommittee and your work with Senator 
Cramer. You two make a good team, and we are grateful to both 
of you.
    I think Kevin would like to be recognized, if you could 
just hold for a moment, and you will be recognized after 
Senator Capito, and we will come to you.
    Senator Capito. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Just briefly, as 
many of you know, there has been a lot of talk about a larger 
bipartisan agreement in conversation with the White House and 
the jobs plan, and this bill, I think, really is the anchor to 
those bipartisan discussions, and so I appreciate everybody 
joining in to craft something that increases, as the Chairman 
noted in his opening statement, increases from the FAST Act, 
goes up 34 percent, which is very, very significant. Then, the 
gentlemen's amendment would pull those numbers up another 25 
percent.
    So as we talked about earlier, I would not have hesitation 
voting no against this if we were to bring it to a vote, but I 
appreciate the sentiment. Thank you so much.
    Senator Carper. Thank you, Senator Capito.
    Senator Cramer.
    Senator Cramer. Thank you, Mr. Chairman and Ranking Member 
Capito for your incredible leadership.
    Senator Cardin, it has been a pleasure working with you as 
well. I look forward to continue the work.
    I would ask to bring up Cramer Amendment No. 2, which, like 
Senator Cardin, I will not be asking for a vote on, but wanted 
just a minute to visit about it.
    I think the work that has been done is remarkable. I am, 
like you all are, strongly supportive of the final outcome of 
the bill. While it may be the end of the beginning, it is a 
darned good beginning, Mr. Chairman. I think it should serve as 
a great encouragement to the people who we work for who are 
watching this process, who if they just accidentally stumble 
onto this moment, are going, wow, I didn't know they could all 
actually work together and get things done.
    I think you are right, Senator Capito, it should create 
some momentum for bigger things, and we have gone big today. 
So, we made some progress, but that being said, I do believe 
that we can and should do more, especially to prioritize 
flexibility, innovation, and transparency. The infrastructure 
policies that Congress promotes should be more focused on 
delivering results than it is about preserving archaic 
processes.
    My amendment would get to the heart of this issue. It would 
make a number of streamlining improvements to NEPA as it 
applies to certain transportation projects under Title 23. It 
shouldn't take longer to permit a project than to actually 
build it. I would reiterate the comments from the Ranking 
Member. You can't build back better if you can't build.
    My amendment also creates a pilot program to establish 
innovative practices for permitting reviews. This would 
maintain the environmental safeguards that we all support while 
bringing new approaches to the forefront. It would create a 
pilot program to give States flexibility in how they spend the 
Federal allocation, and last, my amendment will require the 
development of a methodology to determine costs associated with 
NEPA.
    This is just common sense. We should have a clear 
understanding how much NEPA is costing taxpayers and States to 
comply.
    So, Mr. Chairman, again, I think we can do better, but I 
think we have done darn well, and I look forward to continuing 
to improve the bill as it moves through the floor and through 
the process, and with that, I yield.
    Senator Carper. Thank you. Very good work on this bill, and 
to your staff as well. Thank you for your comments.
    Would any other members care to speak?
    Senator Sullivan. Mr. Chair, I just want to echo the 
comments of Senator Cramer. I think that permitting reform 
isn't cutting corners on environmental reviews or anything like 
that. It is common sense. When you talk to Governors and 
mayors, regardless of political party, it is always a priority 
of theirs, because they see first hand what happens with 
Federal permitting that can be too burdensome and can take way 
too much time.
    On average, I think, in the United States, it takes almost 
8 to 9 years to permit a bridge. That is crazy. Nine to 19 
years from planning to finalizing highways. Nine to 19 years. 
That is nuts. We wonder how we are not competing with China. 
That is one way.
    You could have a $10 trillion infrastructure bill, but if 
we don't get to make our Federal permitting more efficient, 
timely, and certain, none of the money is going to get 
deployed. I think there is a big potential bipartisan 
compromise, perhaps more funding for much more aggressive 
permitting reforms, and I think that can be a bipartisan way to 
address some of these issues.
    Senator Carper. Anyone else who would wish to be 
recognized?
    Senator Markey, please.
    Senator Markey. Thank you. I just want to agree with 
Senator Cardin that there is much more to be done, and the 
American Jobs Act does lay out the framework for what needs to 
be done.
    This bill, for example, there is $2.5 billion for charging 
stations. But we know that it will have to be 7 to 10 times 
larger an amount of money of we are going to have 500,000 
charging stations across our country.
    We could keep going down the litany of issues that have to 
be dealt with. Senator Cardin began to outline them. My hope is 
that this is the beginning of a new era and that we are going 
to be able to build on this to have a much larger 
infrastructure bill that will match the full magnitude of all 
the problems that we are faced with in our country, and that 
would be my fervent hope.
    My concern is that this will be not only the end of the 
beginning, but the end as well. We have to avoid that. We have 
to match our efforts to the magnitude of the challenge that we 
are faced with with climate change and the economic challenges, 
the infrastructure challenges in our country. I just wanted to 
reinforce what Senator Cardin said in hope that we can begin 
immediately toward achieving that goal with a much larger 
package as we move forward.
    Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
    Senator Carper. Thank you.
    Anyone else, please.
    Before I move the Committee to report the Surface 
Transportation Reauthorization, let me just take another 
minute. Normally, most of you know, I take the train to work 
and go back and forth just about every day. I look out the 
train window, which runs parallel to I-95 for much of the way.
    A lot of people are just sitting there, not moving, 
polluting, but not moving. The roads and highways and bridges 
in this country need an enormous amount of work, an enormous 
amount of work. We need to invest in them, and we need to 
invest wisely.
    I think we have reported providing extra money, 35 percent 
more than the last 5 year bill. We are making some changes with 
Senator Capito and others to push forward to make sure we are 
spending that money more wisely and maybe more prudently, and 
that is good.
    For me, I love helping people. I know we all do. One of the 
best ways you can help people is to help make sure that they 
have a job. The legislation that we are about to vote on here 
is going to help provide opportunities for millions of people 
to work directly from this legislation on roads, highways, and 
bridges, but also because we are going to be a stronger, more 
productive economy because of these investments that we are 
making. And that makes me feel great.
    The last thing is, that as a Senator from the lowest lying 
State in the country, where the seas around us are rising and 
our State is sinking, the idea of climate change is very, very 
real, and I just thank everybody for noting that and for making 
sure that we don't ignore that in this legislation. The day 
that we can somehow do good things for our planet, good things 
for people, putting them to work, is a day to celebrate.
    Last, I will say, people say to me, what do you like about 
your Committee so much? And I say, this is a work horse 
committee. We are not show horses, we are work horses. We go to 
work, and we get things done, and we provide leadership by 
example. My hope is that we will report this bill out with a 
strong, maybe unanimous vote like we did 18 months ago, and 
then we will send a strong signal to our sister committees, 
Commerce, Banking, Finance, that it is time to go to work, and 
they will join us as well.
    With that, I now move that the Committee report the Surface 
Transportation Reauthorization Act of 2021 as amended.
    Is there a second?
    Senator Capito. Second.
    Senator Carper. Thank you.
    With that, the Clerk will call the roll.
    The Clerk. Mr. Boozman.
    Senator Boozman. Yes.
    The Clerk. Mrs. Capito.
    Senator Capito. Aye.
    The Clerk. Mr. Cardin.
    Senator Cardin. Aye.
    The Clerk. Mr. Cramer.
    Senator Cramer. Aye.
    The Clerk. Ms. Duckworth.
    Senator Duckworth. Aye.
    The Clerk. Ms. Ernst.
    Senator Ernst. Yes.
    The Clerk. Mr. Graham.
    Senator Graham. Aye.
    The Clerk. Mr. Inhofe.
    Senator Inhofe. Aye.
    The Clerk. Mr. Kelly.
    Senator Kelly. Aye.
    The Clerk. Ms. Lummis.
    Senator Lummis. Aye.
    The Clerk. Mr. Markey.
    Senator Markey. Aye.
    The Clerk. Mr. Merkley.
    Senator Merkley. Aye.
    The Clerk. Mr. Padilla.
    Senator Carper. Aye by proxy.
    The Clerk. Mr. Sanders.
    Senator Sanders. Aye.
    The Clerk. Mr. Shelby.
    Senator Capito. Aye by proxy.
    The Clerk. Ms. Stabenow.
    Senator Stabenow. Aye.
    The Clerk. Mr. Sullivan.
    Senator Sullivan. Aye.
    The Clerk. Mr. Whitehouse.
    Senator Whitehouse. Aye.
    The Clerk. Mr. Wicker.
    Senator Wicker. Aye.
    The Clerk. Mr. Chairman.
    Senator Carper. Aye.
    The Clerk. Mr. Chairman, the yeas are 20, the nays are 
zero.
    Senator Carper. Say that again?
    The Clerk. The yeas are 20, nays are zero.
    Senator Carper. Say it just one more time.
    [Laughter.]
    The Clerk. The yeas are 20, the nays are zero.
    Senator Carper. All right. Thank you. I thought that is 
what you said.
    Everybody, congratulations. Good work. This is not the end, 
but it is a good beginning. Thank you all.
    We have the GSAs to do.
    Final business? Final business, if you will just bear with 
this for just a moment.
    Senator Stabenow. Mr. Chairman, before moving on, I just 
wanted to say congratulations and ask unanimous consent that my 
full statement be put in the record about this legislation, but 
I agree this is a very important step in the right direction, 
so congratulations.
    Senator Carper. Thanks so much. Without objection.
    [The prepared statement of Senator Stabenow follows:]

                  Statement of Hon. Debbie Stabenow, 
                U.S. Senator from the State of Michigan

    Thank you, Chairman Carper, and Ranking Member Capito.
    Today, the Senate EPW Committee took important action to 
invest in our infrastructure and America's future.
    I've often said that we don't have an economy unless we 
make things and grow things. But making things and growing 
things doesn't happen on its own. We need roads and bridges, 
railways and waterways to bring in raw materials and ship out 
finished products.
    Unfortunately, a lack of investment in our Nation's 
transportation infrastructure stands in the way of getting 
products to market, connecting people to work and play, and 
moving our Nation forward.
    Recently, the American Society of Civil Engineers gave U.S. 
roads a ``D'' and U.S. bridges a ``C'' on its 2021 Report Card 
for America's Infrastructure. In Michigan, 43 percent of major 
roads are in poor or mediocre condition, and 11 percent of our 
bridges are rated as poor or structurally deficient.
    Earlier this year, we heard from Governor Whitmer on the 
work her administration is doing to tackle this problem. It's 
time for the Federal Government to step up, too.
    This highway reauthorization bill is a big step in the 
right direction. Over the next 5 years, it will provide $303.5 
billion to fix roads, bridges, and other critical 
transportation infrastructure. That's a 34 percent increase 
over the FAST Act.
    Under this highway bill, Michigan is set to receive $7.2 
billion over the next 5 years. That's a 23 percent increase 
over the FAST Act.
    And this bill goes beyond just providing States with the 
funding they need to keep roads drivable and bridges standing. 
It addresses the climate crisis and helps ensure that our 
transportation infrastructure can withstand natural disasters 
and volatile weather.
    It also invests $2.5 billion in EV and alternative fuel 
charging stations, which will help get more zero-emission 
vehicles onto our Nation's roads and into our garages.
    I look forward to partnering with Chairman Carper and 
Ranking Member Capito on increasing Federal investments in this 
important area, and I am working on legislation to achieve that 
goal.
    My bill would provide $34 billion to establish a formula 
program to help States install charging infrastructure and 
related energy storage systems.
    This investment in charging will help bring more EVs to the 
road, and produce major environment benefits over 10 years. 
This includes:

     Reducing lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions by 1,300 
million tons, which is equivalent to taking 290 million 
gasoline cars off the road for a year.
     Saving consumers $427 billion over the lifecycle of their 
vehicles.
     Eliminating $28 billion in negative health effects from 
air pollution.

    This bill isn't perfect. But it's a good step. It moves our 
Nation in the right direction. It will help us make things and 
grow things--including our economy.

    Senator Carper. Final business before us today is to 
consider 10 resolutions relating to the General Services 
Administration. As members of this Committee know, since the 
Public Buildings Act of 1959, this Committee and its 
predecessor committees have approved GSA prospectuses by 
committee resolution. The purpose behind this process is to 
create a congressional role in GSA process. It is not unduly 
burdensome or time consuming.
    The resolutions we consider today are GSA leases throughout 
the country. Members have had the opportunity to review these 
documents, and I believe them to be non-controversial.
    Does anyone have another, different view? Are we OK here? I 
think we are.
    Therefore, we will consider the resolutions en bloc, and we 
will do it by voice vote.
    I now move to report favorably the 10 GSA Resolutions.
    Is there a second?
    Senator Capito. Second.
    Senator Carper. Moved and seconded. All in favor, say aye.
    [Chorus of ayes.]
    Senator Carper. Opposed, say nay.
    [No audible response.]
    Senator Carper. We are on a roll. The ayes have it. With 
that, the voting portion of this meeting is concluded.
    Before we turn to statements from Senators on matters that 
we reported today and their amendments, I want to acknowledge 
again the support that the transportation legislation has 
earned. The legislation is supported by safety groups like the 
National Safety Council, business organizations like the 
Association of Equipment Manufacturers, and professional 
organizations like the American Society of Civil Engineers. 
Other critical transportation stakeholders like AASHTO and the 
Bike League are also supporting the legislation.
    I ask unanimous consent to submit for the record a number 
of letters of support for this legislation, including from the 
organizations I just mentioned.
    Is there objection? Hearing none.
    [The referenced information was not received at time of 
print.]
    Senator Carper. I am now happy to recognize anyone on this 
Committee who wishes to make a statement on the nominations or 
the legislation that we just approved or to speak on any of the 
amendments that were filed or adopted. Anyone?
    Senator Cardin, or Senator Ernst, then Senator Cardin.
    Senator Ernst, please proceed.
    Senator Ernst. Yes, thank you. Before I talk about my 
amendment, I do want to thank Chairman Carper and Ranking 
Member Capito for the leadership on this historic 
infrastructure legislation. I also want to thank the rest of my 
colleagues on the Committee for providing their valuable input 
as we develop this bill. Our success this morning shows that we 
can accomplish a lot when we work together and focus on real 
transportation infrastructure.
    My amendment, Ernst No. 1, makes grant funding available 
for biofuel fueling infrastructure in Section 1401. This 
section authorizes $2.5 billion in grants over 5 years for 
charging and fueling infrastructure for electric, hydrogen, 
propane, and natural gas vehicles, but not for biofuel. By 
leaving out biofuel, we are subsidizing charging infrastructure 
for wealthy EV owners on the coast, while at the same time, 
leaving our corn and soybean farmers and biofuel producers on 
the sidelines.
    This program can be more effective if a broader range of 
fuels are eligible for it. Neglecting to include biofuel is 
shortsighted and ignores the role it can play in reducing 
greenhouse gases in the transportation sector.
    Conventional ethanol already reduces greenhouse gas 
emissions relative to gasoline by nearly 50 percent. Advanced 
biofuel can reduce greenhouse gases by 70 to 100 percent, and 
in some cases, be carbon negative. Internal combustion engines 
will be the primary light duty vehicle for decades to come, and 
we can't ignore solutions that provide us with low cost, lower 
carbon liquid fuels.
    Though I did not push for a vote on my amendment today, I 
do plan to work with my colleagues to see if we can work this 
out before the bill gets to the floor.
    With that, I will yield. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
    Senator Carper. Thank you, and thanks for your input on 
this bill in a variety of ways. Thanks so much.
    Senator Cardin, and then, I think, Senator Kelly.
    Senator Cardin. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I just really want 
to underscore how proud I am of the work of this Committee. 
Under Senator Carper's and Senator Capito's leadership, every 
member of the U.S. Senate had the opportunity for input into 
this bill, every single Senator, all 100. As a result, this is 
a balanced bill in the needs of all of our communities around 
the Nation.
    Yes, it does contain certain advancements that some of us 
are very excited about. Some of us are not. It contains changes 
in some of the regulatory issues, as some of us are concerned 
about. Some of us think it hasn't gone far enough, but it is 
the way the Committee should operate. Taking the advice of all 
members, working it, and the staff worked overtime to make sure 
that it worked what we wanted to do, checked with the 
transportation experts to make sure that the provisions would 
be sensible and coordinated, and at the end of the day, we have 
a bill that enjoyed the unanimous support of the Committee.
    What an achievement, so I just first really want to 
underscore how proud I am to have been part of this effort.
    I want to talk about three areas. I already mentioned the 
funding levels where I think we should be looking at a more 
transformational number. But I want to talk about three other 
issues that are, to me, important. I mentioned during the 
offering of the amendment the reconnecting of communities, and 
that, to me, is important because of the equity issues of 
transportation programs over many generations.
    Bad transportation programs can really hurt communities, 
and we have isolated so many communities. They are generally 
minority communities, communities that are trapped. Good 
transportation programs can empower communities and provide 
jobs. So as we look to expand transportation opportunities, we 
need to go back and do something about the equity.
    I congratulate the Chairman for his connecting community 
legislation pilot program that you authored. I was proud to be 
one of your co-sponsors, and you are right. We have money in 
this bill to advance that program, and thank you very much for 
being able to negotiate that.
    I just believe we are going to have to do more. These are 
scars to communities, and they isolate communities. I can tell 
you, in Baltimore, what it has done in make communities much 
more vulnerable. We have work to do.
    The second area that I would like to see us do more 
advancement in is the recognition that we want to build new 
roads, we want to build bridges, but we have to take care of 
it. We have got to maintain our existing infrastructure. Too 
often, the maintenance gets pushed to a side because of the 
pressure to do more and build more. And we need to make sure 
that our local transportation officials have a game plan to 
maintain the structures that we are participating in building. 
So I think we have to have a stronger focus on the maintenance 
of the transportation infrastructure.
    The last, that came out today during Senator Markey's 
amendment, and Senator Capito, you are absolutely right. We 
have a really exciting program under Transportation Alternative 
Program that gives the ability to do the connecting of 
communities, through whether it is bicycle paths, or whether it 
is trails, or whether it is channeling, or those types of 
issues. It is a good program, but there is frustration, as 
Senator Markey's amendment pointed out, with local officials as 
to how they direct that money going through the normal 
transportation allocation process with the State, which can be 
cumbersome at times.
    I know that we want to maintain maximum flexibility to our 
States, and I support that. But I think there is a balance here 
that we can have to get the TAP program more sensitive to the 
local communities, and I look forward to working with this 
Committee as we try to address those issues moving forward.
    Bottom line, great work. I am proud to be part of the 
Committee and look forward to additional challenges that we are 
all going to have to confront.
    Senator Carper. I think it is safe to say we could not have 
done it without you. Thank you very much, Ben.
    Senator Kelly.
    Senator Kelly. Thank you, Mr. Chairman, and thank you, 
Ranking Member Capito. Great to be here today to work on and 
advance such landmark legislation championed by both 
Republicans and Democrats to revitalize America's 
infrastructure.
    This bill invests in our national transportation 
infrastructure at a historically high level, and most 
importantly, the bill will transform our future. As somebody 
who is at any moment about to become a grandfather, preparing 
for our future is very important. Investing in our surface 
transportation is more than building new roads and bridges. It 
is a foundation for job creation, a flourishing economy, and 
connectivity for decades to come.
    The funding increase for surface transportation shows our 
shared commitment to a better American future. I am proud of 
how our work together on this Committee accomplishes this. The 
Surface Transportation Reauthorization Act of 2021 is critical 
for the State of Arizona.
    Like most of the country, we are in recovery mode from this 
devastating pandemic, but Arizona is still experiencing record 
setting growth. In fact, Arizona is the second fastest growing 
State in the U.S. This means that a down payment on our 
infrastructure is more important than ever. To support 
Arizona's growing population, we have to build up sustainable, 
affordable transportation infrastructure.
    After talking with Arizona mayors and business groups and 
others, I worked to include priorities for our State in this 
legislation. There is more work to be done on infrastructure, 
but this legislation is the first step of bringing billions of 
dollars to Arizona to move transportation infrastructure 
projects forward, projects like the I-10 expansion to make the 
corridor more safe and efficient, like I-11 to finally connect 
Phoenix and Las Vegas, and needed improvements and upgrades to 
rural roads and bridges.
    This legislation thinks ahead to navigate the climate 
challenges that we face. It invests in transportation 
infrastructure resiliency, with a particular emphasis placed on 
heat reduction programs, a major factor in Arizona. It 
dedicates funding to support Arizona's aging bridge 
infrastructure, as well as expansions and improvements.
    For tribal communities, the bill delivers critical funding 
to establish a tribal high priority projects program, creates 
an Office of Tribal Government Affairs, and increases the 
overall funding in the tribal transportation project 
authorization.
    It also includes bipartisan priorities that I advocated 
for, including the ROCKS Act that I introduced with Senator 
Portman, which would make Federal transportation projects more 
sustainable, efficient, and beneficial to local economies by 
advancing the use of locally sourced aggregate resources like 
sandstone gravel. Also what was included here was funding to 
help States, metropolitan planning organizations, and 
localities cover the costs associated with taking on large 
construction projects.
    Mr. Chairman, I am proud to have worked with the 
Republicans and Democrats to shape and advance this investment 
that will upgrade and expand the roadways Arizonans use to 
connect each and every day. I look forward to our continued 
bipartisan work to invest in our infrastructure. Thank you, and 
I yield back.
    Senator Carper. Senator Kelly, you say it has been a 
pleasure. You could have chosen any number of committees to 
serve on. Speaking as the Chairman, I suspect I speak for 
others, thank you and Senator Padilla, for choosing this 
Committee. You have been a great, great addition.
    Senator Padilla, you have joined us, and I am happy to 
recognize you if you would like to address us.
    Senator Padilla. Thank you, Mr. Chair. I ask unanimous 
consent to be recorded as present and voting yes on the Surface 
Transportation Reauthorization Act.
    Senator Carper. Without objection, so ordered. Thank you.
    Senator Capito.
    Senator Capito. Yes. Thank you, Mr. Chairman, and thank 
you, Senator Cardin, too. I appreciate the good, hard work.
    I notice, sort of on a lighter note, that between the Chair 
and the Ranking Member and the Chair and Ranking Member, all of 
our last names start with C, so we will call this the four Cs. 
I think we have worked well together.
    To hear the statements, Senator Kelly reinforced a point 
that I think is extremely important in this legislation, and 
that is flexibility. What works in Arizona, where his needs 
are, and where the needs of Arizona are much, much different 
than what a mountainous terrain more on the eastern coast such 
as West Virginia, not quite on the coast, but on the eastern 
part of the States.
    Senator Carper. Maybe someday if we are not careful.
    [Laughter.]
    Senator Capito. Maybe someday. I hope not. We have the 
Chesapeake Bay, though; we have got that.
    I think it shows that we need to keep the flexibilities for 
our State DOTs to be able to meet the demands at the local 
level, and I think that is really good, but at the same time, 
we have a lot of common issues. This bridges issue is something 
than spans all 50 States. I am really pleased because, as 
Senator Cardin said, we have infrastructure. We need to 
maintain it.
    Bridges, I think, is one of the things that is routinely 
neglected and is becoming deteriorating. I have been very 
concerned about that.
    I just want to thank you, Chairman Carper, because as you 
and I know, we talk every week at least once and maybe more 
than that. Our staffs talk constantly.
    I think if we are ever really going to get this right in 
this Congress, communication is the key, and we know we don't 
agree on certain issues. We know we have strong feelings on 
each issue. But if we keep communicating and talking and 
listening, because you are a great listener, to one another, I 
think we can overcome some of these hurdles.
    But we really couldn't do it without the fine staff members 
that we have kind of propping us up, so I don't want to start 
getting in trouble and naming names, so we will do that on the 
floor when we get this to the floor. I want to thank all of 
them on both sides. You all have been terrific, and I 
appreciate it.
    Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
    Senator Carper. I especially want to thank you for saying 
that I am a great listener. I hope my wife was listening to 
that.
    Senator Capito. I can't help you with that; I have told you 
that before.
    [Laughter.]
    Senator Carper. Thank you. It's a joy working with you, 
too. Two kids from West Virginia who grew up and ended up in 
the U.S. Senate, go figure.
    Anyone else want to speak? I don't see anyone still with 
us.
    In closing, I just want to say a special thanks to our 
staffs, members of our staffs. At 2 o'clock this morning, we 
were still up, and I know some of them probably never went to 
bed, but it was well worth the effort. Joe Biden likes to say, 
all politics is personal, all diplomacy is personal. He is 
really right.
    I like to say, every night, when I run into people who have 
been married like 30, 40, 50, 60, 70 years, I always ask them, 
I say what is the secret? And I get these great answers. Funny 
answers, but really great answers.
    One of my favorite answers is, the letter C. There it is 
again. Communicate and compromise. I can't tell you how many 
people who have been married 60, 70 years say communicate and 
compromise is really important. It is also the secret for a 
vibrant democracy. Also the secret for a vibrant democracy. We 
have just demonstrated the two Cs, communicate and compromise. 
They really are critical for a vibrant democracy.
    I think we have done good work. I want to thank everybody. 
Adam, I want to thank you and the team you lead, Mary Frances, 
Rebecca Higgins, and others on our transportation team. Thank 
you, and the folks who serve with Senator Cardin as our 
Subcommittee Chair with Kevin Cramer, and just everybody else. 
It has been a great team effort.
    Let me see if there is anything else I need to cover before 
we finish.
    Leslie, what have we done here? We have sent eight 
qualified nominees to the Senate floor, and now with the votes 
today, we have now sent eight qualified nominees to the Senate 
floor. Four of those have been confirmed, and we hope more will 
follow.
    In addition, we have reported two bipartisan infrastructure 
bills out of our Committee, one bill to modernize our Nation's 
water systems that we passed on the Senate floor with 89 votes. 
People still ask me, is that right? You really got 89 votes for 
anything? Eighty-nine votes, and the other bill today that will 
create a transportation system, I think, worthy of the 21st 
century.
    So again, thanks to everyone in this room, who has worked 
on all this, and those who have left or not in, or maybe within 
the sound of my voice, but I am grateful to all of you. We have 
got plenty of work to do.
    Staff, do I need to ask unanimous consent that the staff be 
authorized to make technical and correct conforming changes to 
the legislation? I will ask for that unanimous consent.
    With that, this meeting is adjourned.
    Thank you all. God bless.
    [Whereupon, at 10:46 a.m., the business meeting was 
adjourned.]
    [Due to size constraints, the Surface Transportation 
Reauthorization Act of 2021 is not printed here but is 
available in Committee files. The other referenced legislation 
follows:]
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