[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 167 (Tuesday, November 18, 2003)]
[House]
[Pages H11508-H11509]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


 THE INTRODUCTION OF THE GOODS MOVEMENT PROJECTS OF NATIONAL ECONOMIC 
                        SIGNIFICANCE (H.R. 3398)

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentlewoman from California (Ms. Millender-McDonald) is recognized for 
5 minutes.
  Ms. MILLENDER-McDONALD. Mr. Speaker, I want to bring to the attention 
of this Congress, legislation that I recently introduced.
  The Goods Movement Projects of National Economic Significance is 
legislation that addresses some of our nation's most pressing 
transportation and economic needs.


                          this is the problem

  How freight moves through our communities is an important issue with 
far reaching implications. Goods movement is the driving force of our 
nation's economy. This is a state issue, a Federal issue and it is an 
issue that directly affects the communities in which we live.
  According to the Federal Highway Administration, $7.4 trillion in 
goods were moved on the nation's highway system in 1998, directly 
employing 10 million people.
  In 2000, $706 billion in international merchandise trade flowed 
through U.S. Seaports and $646 billion was handled by our Railroads.
  The volume of goods is projected to grow nationally by 67 percent 
over the next two decades.
  This tremendous growth in international trade will continue to place 
an increasingly heavy burden on our nation's seaports, trade corridors, 
highways and rail lines.
  Traffic congestion, delays, accidents, and freight transportation 
costs have increased as a result.
  On a human level--our citizens are spending more and more time stuck 
in traffic instead of at home with their families.


                          this is the history

  Over the past 30 years our population has grown, our international 
trade has increased and our congestion has worsened.
  For example, in 1970, trade was 12 percent of U.S. gross domestic 
product (GDP). Today, it is over 25 percent.
  Since 1970 the population of the U.S. has grown by 40 percent. At the 
same time, the number of registered vehicles has increased by 100 
percent while our road capacity has increased by only 6 percent.
  By the year 2020, shipment of containerized cargo moving in and out 
of the United States will increase by more than 350 percent.
  By the year 2020, total domestic tonnage of freight carried by all 
U.S. freight systems will increase by at least 67 percent and 
international trade will increase by nearly 100 percent.
  The transportation reauthorization bill is the perfect opportunity 
for us to address these pressing transportation infrastructure needs.
  TEA-21 began to address Goods Movement issues with the creation of 
the Borders and Corridors Program.
  But we need to take it further during this reauthorization bill.
  Back in 1998 when the Borders and Corridors program was created in 
TEA-21, the intent was to create a discretionary program that provided 
federal funding for transportation projects and initiatives that 
supported, enhanced and helped the movement of goods and economic 
development through the gateway and trade corridors in this country.
  The program provided $140 million a year. During the first 3 years 
the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) received over $2 billion in 
grant requests per year.
  After the third year, the entire Borders and Corridors program had 
been earmarked.
  Aside from the fact that the authorized amount of $140 million per 
year was far too low to meet our Nation's infrastructure needs, the 
earmarking of this program has proved problematic.
  It has prevented communities and regions from developing 
comprehensive programs and plans that addresses goods movement issues 
of our transportation infrastructure.
  We must have a dedicated source of funding to ensure that goods 
movement and projects of economic significance can be built and that 
these projects contribute to the overall efficiency of the national 
transportation infrastructure.
  As we continue the dialog of reauthorizing the transportation bill, 
the Goods Movement Projects of National Economic Significance needs to 
be a part of that conversation.


                        THIS IS WHAT WE MUST DO

  Goods Movement Projects of National Economic Significance will do the 
following:
  It will provide $3 billion per year to a Goods Movement Program.
  Given the history of the Borders and Corridors Program we can safely 
assume that our transportation infrastructure can use at a minimum, $3 
billion a year, or $18 billion for the life of the 6-year 
reauthorization bill.
  This legislation separates the Borders and Corridors Program and 
creates one strong Corridor and Gateway Program.
  Corridor projects represented 95 percent of the project requests for 
the Borders and Corridors program.
  My legislation focuses our resources on projects and initiatives that 
promote the safe, secure and efficient mobility of goods and on the 
immediate and long-term needs of our transportation infrastructure.
  This legislation combines and enhances elements of two highly 
successful transportation programs. This program uses the criteria from 
the Corridors program and combines it with the fiscal responsibility of 
the full funding grant agreement of the transit New Start Program.
  Specifically, this program provides $1\1/2\ billion a year, $9 
billion over the life of the reauthorization bill for local 
communities, states and the Federal Government to plan and build Goods 
Movement projects.
  These projects will ultimately enhance local, regional, and state 
economies, and ultimately the national economy.
  Finally, $1\1/2\ billion a year or $9 billion over the life of the 
reauthorization bill will be dedicated to funding projects of National 
Economic Significance.

[[Page H11509]]

  Throughout the country there are national bottlenecks that congest 
our communities and slow our national economy down.
  As we all know from experience--if there is a bottleneck on the 
highway, traffic several miles away can be affected.
  If the type of gridlock that I just described happens and goes 
unchecked, it will affect an entire region, and the entire country, and 
ultimately our economy and the livability of our communities.
  These are projects located throughout the country that are ready to 
go major investments in the national transportation infrastructure.
  By funding these projects we will be stimulating the national economy 
while investing in the long-term health of our national transportation 
infrastructure.
  This legislation, like the entire transportation reauthorization bill 
is an economic stimulus package. For every billion dollars invested in 
public transportation infrastructure 47,000 jobs are created.
  I ask my colleagues to strongly support this legislation as part of 
the transportation reauthorization bill.
  Join me and support The Goods Movement Projects of National Economic 
Significance.

                          ____________________