[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 51 (Tuesday, April 20, 2004)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E549]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             TRANSPORTATION EQUITY ACT: A LEGACY FOR USERS

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                               speech of

                            HON. MIKE ROGERS

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, April 1, 2004

       The House in Committee of the Whole House on the State of 
     the Union had under consideration the bill (H.R. 3550) to 
     authorize funds for Federal-aid highways, highway safety 
     programs, and transit programs, and for other purposes:

  Mr. ROGERS of Michigan. Mr. Chairman, my primary objective being 
named to the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee in the 
107th Congress was to improve Michigan's minimum rate of return for 
highway dollars from the current 90.5 percent in the reauthorization of 
TEA-21. Sadly, the bill reported from the House Transportation and 
Infrastructure Committee, H.R. 3550, while increasing the overall pot 
of money to $284 billion over six years, decreases the amount of 
programs or ``scope'' that the minimum rate of return applies to, 
effectively decreasing our share to about 79 percent of every road 
dollar. The amendment offered by Mr. Isakson of Georgia on the House 
floor would have corrected this flaw and at least allow Michigan and 
other donor States to continue receiving the same rate of return on the 
same scope of projects as in current law. The net effect of this 
amendment would have been an additional $300 million to meet Michigan's 
needs. While I voted in favor of this amendment, it was defeated by a 
vote of 170-254.
  Given the fact that under H.R. 3550, Michigan will receive less of a 
percentage of road dollars than they do today, I am voting against it 
on final passage. Michigan's roads and infrastructure have taken a back 
seat to other States for far too long. Enough is enough--it is time 
these Federal road dollars go to Michigan projects and create Michigan 
jobs. I am hopeful that we can work to make the final product better 
for Michigan's citizens in conference committee.

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