[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 123 (Friday, July 25, 2008)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1571]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   NATIONAL HIGHWAY BRIDGE RECONSTRUCTION AND INSPECTION ACT OF 2008

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                               speech of

                           HON. BOB ETHERIDGE

                           of north carolina

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, July 23, 2008

  Mr. ETHERIDGE. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 3999, 
The National Highway Bridge Reconstruction and Inspection Act.
  In my home state of North Carolina there are hundreds of bridges that 
have been rated structurally deficient, and in my district alone there 
are over 150 bridges that have been rated structurally deficient. This 
bill enhances our ability to address this critical need.
  H.R. 3999 will improve the safety of our nation's bridges by ensuring 
that they are properly monitored for repairs, and by ensuring that the 
federal funding that is set aside for their maintenance and repair goes 
towards that specific purpose. This bill authorizes an additional $1 
billion in fiscal year 2009, on top of the current $4.5 billion 
authorized in the Federal Highway Administration's Bridge Program. In 
addition to this funding, this legislation requires the Federal Highway 
Administration to conduct annual inspections on bridges that are rated 
deficient, and inspect all other bridges every two years.
  This additional funding, along with the mandated inspections, will go 
a long way towards insuring that the American public will have 
confidence in the bridges they traverse, without having to fear the 
disaster that occurred in Minnesota nearly one year ago.
  Madam Chairman our nation's infrastructure is the engine that drives 
our economy, and the safety of our citizens also depends on the 
reliability of this infrastructure. I urge my colleagues to vote yes on 
H.R. 3999.

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