[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 44 (Friday, March 14, 2008)]
[House]
[Page H1706]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   A NEW NATIONAL INFRASTRUCTURE PLAN

   (Mr. BLUMENAUER asked and was given permission to address the House 
for 1 minute.)
   Mr. BLUMENAUER. Mr. Speaker, this week we commended on the floor of 
the House the 200th anniversary of the Gallatin Plan that guided the 
infrastructure for this country for the first century of our existence. 
It's timely because we are today losing that battle. We have an 
infrastructure crisis. The Society of Civil Engineers gives us a D 
minus for condition of transportation and water facilities and we are 
fast running out of money to fix it.
   Now is the time for an infrastructure plan for this century. Yes, we 
do need adequate resources; but more than money, we need a new vision 
for all our infrastructure needs: roads, rail, air, energy 
transmission. Most important, we need to squeeze out more value. We 
need to find a way to do this critical work better. Congress and 
Federal agencies can help by changing how they do business.
   I urge my colleagues to join me in a new plan for infrastructure for 
this century for livable communities where our families are safe, 
healthy, and economically secure.

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