[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 58 (Wednesday, May 7, 1997)]
[House]
[Page H2261]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




            HIGHWAY FUNDING SHOULD BE A FAIR DEAL FOR STATES

  (Mr. BRADY asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. BRADY. Mr. Speaker, on this day in 1626 a wise Dutchman named 
Peter Minuit traded $24 of trinkets for the island of Manhattan. It is 
commonly agreed that Minuit received the better end of that deal.
  When it comes to highway funding, however, a lot of taxpayers find 
themselves on the opposite end of the situation, on the bad end of the 
deal. For every dollar we send to Washington for highway funding, we 
receive back less than 78 cents. Twenty-five other States find 
themselves in the same position. Even though Federal law says we ought 
to receive 90 cents for every dollar, 18 States do not even receive 
that. Donor States are fast growing.
  In Texas, we are a large State, very diverse, big infrastructure 
needs, and we are the entryway for our trade with America's largest 
partner, Mexico. This year as we address transportation issues, let us 
make sure we are giving taxpayers the fair deal they deserve.

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