[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 131 (Tuesday, September 23, 2003)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1863]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  SURFACE TRANSPORTATION EXTENSION ACT

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. JOHN D. DINGELL

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                      Tuesday, September 23, 2003

  Mr. DINGELL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to call upon the President and 
House Leadership to work with Chairman Young and Ranking Member 
Oberstar to craft a comprehensive transportation bill that addresses 
the needs of our nation. While I will vote for the short-term extension 
for our transportation program, I do so reluctantly.
  We have had months to prepare a good bill that does right for the 
nation. I believe my dear friends, Chairman Young and Ranking Member 
Oberstar are headed in the right direction, but, unfortunately, a 
select few have held up any attempt at crafting a good bill, bringing 
us to this impasse.
  Mr. Speaker, I also want to reiterate my support for Chairman Young's 
and Ranking Member Oberstar's $375 billion proposal. In my home state 
of Michigan, 1 in 5 roads have been rated as being in ``poor 
condition''. In Southeast Michigan, Metro Detroit ranks fifth for 
motorists who pay the most annually in additional vehicle maintenance 
because of poor road quality. The only way to help alleviate the 
problems in my state is to ensure that we grow the program so Michigan 
and all the other donor states receive their fair share of highway 
dollars. The longer we wait to pass a comprehensive bill the longer it 
will take to improve our nation's infrastructure.
  For some, they will say, Dingell, it is only six months. But I have 
been here long enough to know how the cow chews the cabbage, and a 
delay puts us into an election year. That delay could easily be 
extended and put our state department's of transportation planning 
process in serious jeopardy. We cannot continue to operate our 
government through continuing resolutions. To do so not only puts our 
infrastructure in jeopardy, but the well being of our nation.
  We must craft a comprehensive bill that helps our nation's 
infrastructure, puts people to work, and gets our economy moving again. 
Many people understand this, a few do not. It is time the few stop 
blocking the path to progress, and help kick start our economy with a 
bill that my Transportation and Infrastructure Chairman and Ranking 
Member support.

                          ____________________