[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 67 (Tuesday, May 20, 1997)]
[House]
[Page H2935]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                              {time}  1245
 SHUSTER - OBERSTAR - PETRI - RAHALL AMENDMENT TO THE FISCAL YEAR 1998 
                           BUDGET RESOLUTION

  (Mr. CUMMINGS asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. CUMMINGS. Mr. Speaker, I stand here today to encourage my 
colleagues on both sides of the aisle to consider transportation needs 
of their respective districts when considering the budget resolution. I 
remind Members, no, I implore them, to remain cognizant of just how 
many aspects of human society are dependent on our transportation 
systems: Employment, trade, land development, environmental quality, 
social equity, economic activity, energy and resource allocation, 
access to education, and access to health care.
  The Shuster-Oberstar-Petri-Rahall amendment permits us to address the 
serious infrastructure deficiencies of our Nation. It does not 
interfere with balancing the budget by fiscal year 2002 and it does not 
cut any entitlement programs.
  Transportation accounts for over $1 trillion in commerce annually. 
For every $1 billion of investment, 42,000 jobs are created. Please do 
not stunt the economic growth of our country by denying Americans 
essential transportation systems. Our daily existence depends on it.

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