[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 25 (Wednesday, March 11, 1998)]
[House]
[Page H1024]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                                 ISTEA

  (Mr. ROTHMAN asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. ROTHMAN. Mr. Speaker, as of March 31, just a few weeks away, 
there will be no more Federal dollars going for highway or mass transit 
funding going to our States. No more money, period.
  This is the construction season and businesses and builders are 
making their decisions now. If we miss this building season because the 
House is unable to get its act together about the refunding of highway 
and mass transit infrastructure money in the United States, then we are 
going to lose out in New Jersey where I am from and we are going to 
lose out all across America. A delay will cost our States more money 
because they will have to close down their projects and then reopen 
them.
  For every billion dollars that we do not send to the States to 
rebuild our highways, roads and mass transit, 1,400 projects nationwide 
will be stalled, 42,000 men and women will be out of work.
  And what are we talking about? We are talking about jobs, businesses 
being able to compete in the global economy; and we are talking about 
the quality of life for ourselves and our children. I call upon the 
leaders in the House of Representatives to get their act together, to 
pass the reauthorization of highway, road and mass transit funding so 
we can get our country moving again.

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