[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 132 (Wednesday, September 24, 2003)]
[House]
[Pages H8894-H8895]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
{time} 2045
TEA-LU EQUALS JOBS, JOBS, JOBS
The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Franks of Arizona). Under the Speaker's
announced policy of January 7, 2003, the gentleman from Illinois (Mr.
Lipinski) is recognized for 60 minutes as the designee of the minority
leader.
Mr. LIPINSKI. Mr. Speaker, on May 14 of this year, after months and
months of delay, the administration finally released their TEA-21
reauthorization proposal. Called SAFETEA, the administration's proposal
will authorize $247 billion for surface transportation programs.
In contrast, TEA-21 authorized $218 billion over 6 years for our
Nation's surface transportation needs. While the landmark legislation
made tremendous advancements towards addressing those needs, we still
have much work to do. The next reauthorization must advance on the
successes and priorities of TEA-21 and take into account our future
needs as well.
Unfortunately, SAFETEA fails miserably in that regard. When we factor
in inflation, SAFETEA's $247 billion funding level would mean a
flatline of current transportation spending.
While I admire the administration's laser-like focus on flatlining
surface transportation investments in their proposal, the fact of the
matter is that SAFETEA is shortsighted and inadequate.
The administration's SAFETEA proposal is too little, too late,
especially in today's gloomy economy. We now have 6.1 percent
unemployment rate. This is the highest level since July, 1994. The
unemployment rate for construction workers is even higher at 7.1
percent. In a time where nearly 9 million Americans are out of work,
over 4 million Americans are underemployed, and nearly 2 million
Americans have been out of a job for more than 6 months, we need
something more than SAFETEA.
What this Nation needs is a bold and innovative economic stimulus
plan. What this Nation needs is a robust public works funding package,
and what the administration has proposed just is not it.
What we need is the proposal laid out by the Committee on
Transportation and Infrastructure. Under the leadership of the
gentleman from Alaska (Mr. Young), the committee is working on a $375
billion reauthorization bill. Mr. Speaker, $375 billion is within the
funding levels recommended by the U.S. DOT's ``Conditions and
Performance Report.'' Mr. Speaker, $375 billion is needed to maintain
and improve our highways and transit systems.
I strongly believe that TEA-LU will adequately fund our national
surface transportation needs. And just as important, it will be a shot
in the arm for our struggling national economy. It will create jobs and
put people back to work.
Over the last several months, much of the debate has centered on the
highway user fee, or gas tax. User fees and taxes are never popular,
but leadership requires making tough decisions.
Let us be perfectly clear. I support an increase in the highway user
fee. I support depositing these revenues in the Highway Trust Fund to
pay for surface transportation needs, and I do not stand alone on this.
In fact, I stand with the majority of Americans on this issue. In a
poll conducted by Zogby International in June 2003, 67 percent of those
surveyed supported an increase in the highway user fee of up to 5 cents
per gallon, provided those revenues went towards infrastructure
improvements.
Putting this into perspective, a 5-cent increase in the highway user
fee on gasoline will cost the average motorist an additional $30 per
year, which is about the same price as an oil change nowadays.
Instead of getting bogged down with the concept of user fees and
taxes, we should all take a page from the history books.
Let us look back to 1982. Let us not forget that this Nation was in
the midst of a recession when Ronald Wilson Reagan, a native
Illinoisan, signed into law the Surface Transportation Assistance Act
of 1982, a bill that raised the gas tax by 5 cents. In his wisdom, he
knew the importance of increasing highway and transit funding. He knew
the importance of investing for the future. He knew that the cost to
the average motorist would be small, while the benefits to the national
transportation system would be immense. But most importantly, Ronald
Reagan knew that a $151 billion surface transportation funding bill
would create jobs and provide immense benefits for a sluggish economy
stuck in a recession back in 1982.
Reagan also pointed out that the gas tax is not a tax, it is a user
fee. An increase in the highway user fee would simply be deposited in
the Highway Trust Fund, and there it would be used to improve our
Nation's transportation system and would have no impact on our Federal
deficit.
Highway user fees are, as President Reagan noted, simply good tax
policy.
His successor, President George Herbert Walker Bush, also recognized
the importance of public works investments and economic vitality. When
he signed ISTEA into law in 1991, he said the highway bill could be
summed up in three words: ``jobs, jobs, jobs.'' That is just as true
today.
Each $1 billion invested in infrastructure creates 47,500 jobs and
$6.1 billion in related economic activity. For the price of a few cents
per gallon, we can craft a $375 billion transportation investment bill
that would potentially create millions of new jobs. That is an
investment for our American working families today as well as an
investment for our Nation's future. For the price of a simple oil
change, we can reauthorize the Highway Trust Fund at $375 billion. It
would not only ensure our transportation system will be second to none
in the world; it would also create jobs and stimulate the economy
without impacting the Federal deficit. What is not to like?
But right here, right now, it is really about jobs, jobs, jobs. We
need to create good-paying jobs. We need to put people back to work. We
need a $375 billion surface transportation bill.
Let us not lose sight of these public policy objectives in these
trying economic times.
In conclusion, let me once again say that the sure way to improve
this economy, to improve transportation, to improve highways in this
country is to
[[Page H8895]]
support a bill for $375 billion that will ensure America being, as it
is today, the leader in the world in transportation.
Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I would like to
thank Ranking Member Lipinski for his leadership and for organizing
this time for a special order this evening.
The need for infrastructure investment is greater than ever.
The U.S. economy desperately needs a shot in the arm.
Our economy is in dismal shape. Unemployment numbers are the highest
ever in the last decade.
With this Bush Recession, family incomes are falling across the
board, and falling most rapidly among lower-income workers.
The increase in unemployment of the last two and a half years has had
a disproportionate effect on people of color.
The rate of unemployment for African Americans is 10.9 percent--more
than twice the rate for whites.
We need to put people back to work in this country, and we need to
get this economy going again.
Transportation infrastructure investment will do just that.
According to the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), every $1
billion invested in infrastructure generates 47,500 jobs and $6.1
billion in related economic activity.
The 375 billion dollar surface transportation bill that the
bipartisan membership of the Transportation Committee supports reflects
the needs expressed in the Department of Transportation's own needs
assessments!
The legislation would potentially create over 1.3 million new good-
paying jobs. This bill would put people back to work, and this is just
what the American economy needs.
We face rising costs--in congestion, in wasted fuel, in frustration,
and in air quality.
I support an increase in the gas user fee because we can not afford
to allow infrastructure to continue to crumble.
We cannot afford to bare the increasing cost of congestion (which was
67.5 billion dollars in 2000).
We cannot afford the healthcare costs we will face as a result of
breathing polluted air.
Unfortunately, the Bush Administration and the House and Senate
Republican leaderships now obstruct our efforts to pass a 6 year bill
that adequately funds transportation infrastructure.
But the need to invest in public infrastructure is genuine, and
moving forward requires additional funding.
Investment in infrastructure will improve mobility, productivity, and
our quality of life.
President Bush's tax cuts have only further harmed our economy.
The Transportation Committee's legislation will provide REAL stimulus
to our economy, and it will finally put people back to work.
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