[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 177 (Thursday, November 15, 2007)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E2425-E2426]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   CONFERENCE REPORT ON H.R. 3074, TRANSPORTATION, HOUSING AND URBAN 
       DEVELOPMENT, AND RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2008

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                         HON. CHRIS VAN HOLLEN

                              of maryland

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, November 14, 2007

  Mr. VAN HOLLEN. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this final FY 08 
Transportation-HUB Appropriations Conference Report for the key 
infrastructure investments it makes and the housing support it 
provides.
  In the aftermath of the 1-35 bridge collapse in Minneapolis this 
summer, it should be clear to every American that we can no longer 
afford the Bush Administration's policy of deferring needed maintenance 
to our nation's infrastructure--or shrink from the infrastructure 
investments necessary for the safe and vibrant America we are committed 
to building in the 21th century.
  That's why this bill invests $40.2 billion to improve and maintain 
our Nation's highways, including an additional $1 billion to ensure the 
safety of our bridges. Additionally, we allocate $9.65 billion to the 
Federal Transit Administration for capital improvements to our commuter 
and light rail systems in order to encourage the use of mass transit, 
alleviate traffic congestion and reduce pollution. We wisely reject 
President Bush's effort to bankrupt Amtrak and instead provide $1.45 
billion to support our national rail system and the 24 million 
passengers it serves. And we provide $3.5 billion for vital airport 
modernization initiatives designed to expand airport capacity, make 
critical safety improvements and expand noise mitigation efforts.
  On the housing front, we fund 15,500 new vouchers for vulnerable 
populations like low-income families, homeless veterans and the 
disabled. We spend $145 million--or $29 million over the President's 
request--to protect children from lead poisoning. We invest $3.79 
billion in the Community Development Block Grant, CDBG program to 
revitalize neighborhoods across the nation. And we allocate $200 
million to the Neighborhood Reinvestment Corporation for its work 
counseling the

[[Page E2426]]

estimated 2.5 million homeowners at risk of foreclosure as a 
consequence of the ongoing subprime mortgage crisis.
  Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to support this conference report.

                          ____________________