[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 64 (Friday, May 17, 2002)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E849]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    HIGHWAY FUNDING RESTORATION ACT

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                               speech of

                          HON. SILVESTRE REYES

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, May 14, 2002

  Mr. REYES. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 3694 a 
bill to restore critically needed federal highway funds. I am a 
cosponsor of this important piece of legislation.
  As you know, the President's budget includes a cut of nearly 27 
percent or $8.5 billion to the Federal highway program in Fiscal Year 
2003. The impact of such a cut would be devastating to state and local 
transportation programs and to the economy in general. Every $1 billion 
invested in the Federal highway program supports an estimated 42,000 
jobs. A cut of the magnitude in the President's budget would result in 
the loss of hundreds of thousands of jobs at a time when the economy is 
slowly pulling out of a recession.
  The Highway Funding Restoration Act increases funding for roads 
bridges and safety programs by $4.5 billions in Fiscal Year 2003, the 
level authorized by the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century 
(TEA-21). Since the enactment of TEA-21, the nation's transportation 
infrastructure has benefitted immensely. To halt this progress by 
cutting funding by 27 percent would hurt communities and the men and 
women whose livelihood depends on transportation-related projects.
  Mr. Speaker, without the passage of this important legislation, my 
state of Texas will lose $297 million dollars in Federal transportation 
funds. Texas simply cannot afford cuts of this magnitude. H.R. 3694 is 
a good piece of legislation and is supported by 317 cosponsors. I urge 
the adoption of this important bill and ask my colleagues to vote in 
favor of it.

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