[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 121 (Thursday, September 30, 2004)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1753]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               EDITORIAL FROM THE BECKLEY REGISTER-HERALD

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                        HON. NICK J. RAHALL, II

                            of west virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                     Wednesday, September 29, 2004

  Mr. RAHALL. Mr. Speaker, Congress was supposed to reauthorize the 
major surface transportation and jobs bill, the successor to TEA 21, a 
year ago.
  Now, because of the indifference of the Bush Administration and the 
Republican Leadership in Congress, we are about to embark on the sixth 
extension of TEA 21, rather than completing work on a bill that would 
address our current and future infrastructure needs as well as 
providing sorely needed jobs and economic stimulus.
  The House and Senate versions of transportation and jobs bill passed 
both houses by margins larger than is required in Congress for 
amendments to the Constitution. But the bill is on a road to nowhere 
because the Cheney-Bush reelection bunch wants to make up for their 
Medicare debacle by trying to appear tough on spending. Meanwhile, we 
have the votes in both the House and the Senate to override a 
threatened presidential veto and pass a meaningful bill, but the 
Republican House and Senate leadership are just caving into the Bush 
Administration's reelection efforts. In so doing, they're failing to 
uphold the Constitutional obligation of Congress.
  Although Americans are crying out loud and clear for the need to 
reinvest in our country, the Bush Administration and the Republican 
leadership don't bother to listen. As an example of what I'm talking 
about, I have an editorial from a widely-read newspaper in my district, 
the Beckley Register-Herald, which I would like to submit for the 
record to accompany my remarks. Yesterday, in response to Congressional 
inaction on the transportation and jobs bill, the Register-Herald ran 
the editorial appearing below:

                   [From the Beckley Register-Herald]

                              Highway Bill

       While politicians play election-year politics, W.Va. 
     suffers.
       Heard the latest? A multiyear highway spending bill, 
     crucial to progress here in southern West Virginia, appears 
     to be off until after the election.
       The existing six-year highway and mass transit spending 
     bill, funded at $218 billion, ran out a year ago and has had 
     to be prolonged by several short-term extensions because of 
     differences over spending levels between Congress and the 
     White House.
       The White House, citing the need for fiscal restraint, 
     recommended $256 billion and threatened to veto any bill that 
     would add to the deficit.
       The Senate approved a $318 billion package. The House 
     originally came in at $284 billion, and recently the two 
     chambers united around a figure of $284 billion in guaranteed 
     contracts plus another $15 billion in contracts that have yet 
     to be carried out.
       But politicians are playing election-year politics, and, of 
     course, nothing of substance is getting done.
       As we pointed out a few days ago, no one can accuse this 
     Congress of overwork--it's only been in session roughly one 
     day out of every three.
       Sadly, lawmakers sent to the president only a fraction of 
     the 13 spending bills necessary to fund the government for 
     the fiscal year that starts Friday. That includes the 
     transportation bill to fund highway and transit projects for 
     the next six years--vitally important to southern West 
     Virginia.
       The Mountain State faces unique challenges when it comes to 
     building highways. It can cost up to $20 million to build one 
     mile of a highway here.
       This state relies heavily on the federal program to build 
     highways. A total of $2.2 billion was secured for West 
     Virginia in the House version of the bill, $2 billion of 
     which are projects in southern West Virginia.
       Interstate links developed here in recent years have 
     brought new jobs and the potential for attracting new 
     businesses. These roads provide modern access and position 
     West Virginia as a crossroads for business developers looking 
     for locations in the East. They provide our families a safer 
     means of getting to and from school and work.
       Ordinary West Virginians can't afford to see these 
     opportunities go by the wayside, or even delayed. We suffer 
     while Congress engages in gridlock.
       Enough is enough. Congress and the Bush administration need 
     to get in gear and produce a highway spending package that's 
     adequately financed.

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