[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 68 (Tuesday, May 5, 2009)]
[House]
[Pages H5125-H5127]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 SUPPORTING NATIONAL PUBLIC WORKS WEEK

  Ms. CORRINE BROWN of Florida. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the 
rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 313) supporting the goals 
and ideals of National Public Works Week, and for other purposes.
  The Clerk read the title of the resolution.
  The text of the resolution is as follows:

                              H. Res. 313

       Whereas public works infrastructure, facilities, and 
     services have far-reaching effects on the United States 
     economy and the Nation's competitiveness in the world 
     marketplace;
       Whereas public works infrastructure, facilities, and 
     services play a pivotal role in the health, safety, and 
     quality of life of communities throughout the United States;
       Whereas public works infrastructure, facilities, and 
     services could not be provided without the skill and 
     dedication of public works professionals, including engineers 
     and administrators, representing State and local governments 
     throughout the United States;
       Whereas public works professionals design, build, operate, 
     maintain, and protect the transportation systems, water 
     supply infrastructure, sewage and refuse disposal systems, 
     public buildings, and other structures and facilities that 
     are vital to the citizens, communities, and commerce of the 
     United States;
       Whereas the Corps of Engineers, in partnership with public 
     port authorities, provides navigational improvements that 
     link United States producers and customers with national and 
     international markets;
       Whereas the public waterways, including locks and dams 
     constructed, operated, and maintained by the Corps of 
     Engineers, provide a safe, energy efficient, and cost 
     effective means of transporting goods and services;
       Whereas the Corps of Engineers, in partnership with local 
     public entities, provides levees, reservoirs, and other 
     structural and nonstructural flood damage reduction measures 
     that protect millions of families, homes, and businesses;
       Whereas a recent analysis of the state of the United States 
     infrastructure garnered an overall grade of ``D'';
       Whereas every $1 invested in public transportation 
     generates as much as $6 in economic returns to the Nation's 
     economy;
       Whereas the Nation's public transportation systems 
     experienced record ridership levels in 2008 with 
     10,680,000,000 passenger trips taken;
       Whereas infrastructure investment from all levels of 
     government and the private sector is currently 
     $85,000,000,000 annually;
       Whereas the capital asset program of the General Services 
     Administration is authorized annually to provide Federal 
     employees with necessary office space, courts of law, and 
     other special purpose facilities;
       Whereas since 1972 the Nation has invested more than 
     $250,000,000,000 in wastewater infrastructure facilities to 
     establish a system that includes 16,000 publicly owned 
     wastewater treatment plants, 100,000 major pumping stations, 
     600,000 miles of sanitary sewers, and 200,000 miles of storm 
     sewers;
       Whereas the Pipelines and Hazardous Materials Safety 
     Administration is charged with the safe and secure movement 
     of almost 1,200,000 daily shipments of hazardous materials by 
     all modes of transportation and oversees the safety and 
     security of 2,300,000 miles of gas and hazardous liquid 
     pipelines, which account for 64 percent of the energy 
     commodities consumed in the United States;
       Whereas the National Railroad Passenger Corporation 
     annually provides more than 28,000,000 people with intercity 
     rail service;
       Whereas 15 new runways, 2 end-around taxiways, and 1 
     reconfigured runway have opened at the Nation's busiest 
     airports since 2001;
       Whereas 3 of the Nation's busiest airports currently have 
     airfield projects (1 new runway, 1 taxiway, and a 
     reconfiguration) under construction to provide an additional 
     110,900 annual operations and to decrease average delays by 
     approximately 1.5 minutes per operation;
       Whereas in the report of the Department of Transportation 
     entitled ``2006 Status of the Nation's Highways, Bridges, and 
     Transit: Conditions & Performance'', the Department confirms 
     that investment in the Nation's highway, bridge, and transit 
     infrastructure has not kept up with growing demands on the 
     system;
       Whereas the National Surface Transportation Policy and 
     Revenue Study Commission report estimates that the United 
     States needs to invest up to $340,000,000,000 annually for 
     the next 50 years to upgrade the Nation's existing 
     transportation network to a good state of repair and to build 
     the more advanced facilities the Nation will require to 
     remain competitive;
       Whereas the National Surface Transportation Infrastructure 
     Financing Commission report estimates that, without changes 
     to current policy, revenues raised by all levels of 
     government for capital investment will total only 36 percent 
     of the $200,000,000,000 necessary each year to maintain and 
     improve United States highways and transit systems;
       Whereas the National Surface Transportation Infrastructure 
     Financing Commission report also finds that there is a 
     growing investment gap in the Nation's infrastructure that 
     will total nearly $400,000,000,000 in the years 2010 through 
     2015 and $2,300,000,000,000 in the years 2010 through 2035; 
     and
       Whereas public works professionals are observing National 
     Public Works Week from May 17 through 23, 2009: Now, 
     therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
       (1) supports the goals and ideals of National Public Works 
     Week;
       (2) recognizes and celebrates the important contributions 
     that public works professionals make every day to improve the 
     public infrastructure of the United States and the 
     communities that those professionals serve; and
       (3) urges citizens and communities throughout the United 
     States to join with representatives of the Federal Government 
     in activities and ceremonies that are designed to pay tribute 
     to the public works professionals of the Nation and to 
     recognize the substantial contributions that public works 
     professionals make to the Nation.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentlewoman from 
Florida (Ms. Corrine Brown) and the gentleman from Arkansas (Mr. 
Boozman) each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from Florida.


                             General Leave

  Ms. CORRINE BROWN of Florida. Madam Speaker, I ask that all Members 
may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks on House 
Resolution 313.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentlewoman from Florida?
  There was no objection.
  Ms. CORRINE BROWN of Florida. I rise in support of this resolution 
and yield myself as much time as I may consume.
  Madam Speaker, each year during the month of May, we celebrate 
National Public Works Week. The public works professionals that we 
recognize today provide the country with essential services and keep 
our roads safe, our drinking water clean, and our Nation moving. House 
Resolution 313 honors American public works professionals and 
celebrates their work from May 17 through 23, 2009.
  The public works professionals that we recognize today keep our 
country running in the most basic and fundamental ways possible. These 
professionals design, construct and rehabilitate our transportation 
system, water infrastructure, levees, public buildings and other 
structures and facilities that are an intimate part of everyday life in 
the United States.
  It is appropriate to set aside 1 week each year to recognize the role 
that public works play in our daily life. Far too often we take for 
granted clean water or the method of transportation that we use to get 
to work. In fact, we

[[Page H5126]]

do not begin to fully appreciate these everyday conveniences until they 
fail us. What happened in New Orleans made the importance of public 
works crystal clear to everyone. Their lack of clean water, safe 
infrastructure and basic human needs was a stark reminder that we need 
to be vigilant to ensure that the citizens of our country get the 
critical services they need in their lives.
  I visited New Orleans numerous times following the hurricane, and I 
want to encourage everyone not to forget New Orleans, because they 
still have a ton of rebuilding that needs to be done there and in the 
other gulf States.
  As our Nation's infrastructure ages, it is increasingly likely that 
more and more elements of it will cease to be productive without 
renewed investment. It is for this reason that we must recognize the 
need to revitalize our infrastructure and find ways to make it more 
efficient.
  House Resolution 313 honors the tens of thousands of public works 
professionals that serve the public quietly. These are the 
professionals that keep our country operating safely.
  Madam Speaker, I support this resolution and hope that all my 
colleagues will support it as well.
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. BOOZMAN. Madam Speaker, I yield myself as much time as I may 
consume.
  Madam Speaker, investment in the Nation's highway, bridge and transit 
infrastructure has not kept up with growing demands on the system. The 
National Surface Transportation Policy and Revenue Study Commissions 
reported that the United States needs to invest up to $340 billion 
annually over the next 50 years to upgrade the Nation's transportation 
network.
  The Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure has jurisdiction 
over our water transportation system, which consists of 926 coastal and 
inland harbors maintained by the Corps of Engineers and 25,000 miles of 
inland and coastal commercial waterways. If we do not keep our harbors 
and waterways operating efficiently, we threaten our economic 
prosperity.
  To meet these needs, as well the need for flood protection and 
environmental restoration, passing a water resources development act 
for 2010 should be high on the committee's agenda. According to 
separate studies conducted by the Congressional Budget Office, EPA and 
municipal groups, the current rate of capital investment will not keep 
our wastewater treatment systems operational. State and local 
governments are spending approximately $10 billion a year in capital 
investments in wastewater infrastructure. Most of this funding comes 
from the local taxpayers. However, to meet the needs of communities all 
over the United States, our Nation should be doubling that spending.
  We can't continue to take our wastewater treatment facilities for 
granted. Not only are they critical to protecting our health and the 
environment; they are critical to protecting our economy and our way of 
life. Public infrastructure plays a critical role in enhancing our 
quality of life, improving our environment and contributes to our 
economic prosperity.
  We take these systems and the professionals, engineers and 
administrators for granted. So it is important for Congress to 
recognize the contribution they make to ensuring America remains the 
world's premier economic power.
  I appreciate Mr. Oberstar in bringing this resolution forward. I urge 
all Members to support H. Res. 313.
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Ms. CORRINE BROWN of Florida. I yield as much time as she may consume 
to Ms. Eddie Bernice Johnson of Texas.
  Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Thanks to Ms. Brown and Mr. 
Boozman for handling this legislation today. Today we considered House 
Resolution 313, recognizing National Public Works Week from May 17 
through May 23, 2009.
  The National Public Works Week is celebrated in May each year. This 
resolution pays tribute to the professionals that design, build and 
maintain critical elements of our Nation's infrastructure. This body 
has always understood the value of these professionals and what they 
bring to our society. Professionals in the public works sector provide 
us with safe and efficient roads, access to clean drinking water and 
other essential services that keep our country running.
  It has become increasingly important that Congress designate 1 week 
each year to recognize those who work in the public works sector. Many 
people take for granted the public transportation system they use to 
commute each day or the safe running water in their homes. Far too 
often we do not realize the importance of these systems until something 
goes wrong.
  At the beginning of this Congress, the House passed a key water 
infrastructure bill, H.R. 1262, the Water Quality Investment Act of 
2009. And this piece of legislation increases authorization levels of 
the Clean Water State Revolving Fund, grants provided by the 
Environmental Protection Agency to address combined and sanitary sewer 
overflows, as well as grants for alternative water source projects. 
These grants will go one step further to ensure that every American has 
access to clean water.
  Madam Speaker, on February 17, 2009, President Obama signed into law 
the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act. The legislation provides 
for over $64 billion in investment in our Nation's highway system, rail 
system and environmental infrastructure, not enough but steps in the 
right direction. It is investment in these areas as well as other 
critical infrastructure areas that will put America back to work and 
see us out of these troubling economic times.
  I'm grateful for the administrators, engineers and servicemen who 
continue to utilize their skills and dedication to provide these 
essential services to us.
  I support this resolution and urge my colleagues to join me and give 
our public works professionals the recognition that they deserve.
  Mr. BOOZMAN. Madam Speaker, I continue to reserve my time.
  Ms. CORRINE BROWN of Florida. I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. OBERSTAR. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Res. 313, 
supporting the goals and ideals of National Public Works Week.
  H. Res. 313 recognizes the week of May 17 through 23, 2009, as 
National Public Works Week and pays tribute to our public works 
professionals. This week has been designated by a variety of groups to 
celebrate those public works professionals who keep our nation running 
in the most basic and fundamental ways.
  These professionals protect our public health, our economy, and our 
communities. They design, build, and maintain vital transportation 
systems, levees, sewage systems, and public buildings that enhance 
everyday life in our nation.
  Today, we are all eminently aware of the financial issues that 
Americans are facing. What we are less aware of, however, is the 
current state of our nation's failing infrastructure. Critical elements 
of our highway system, drinking water infrastructure, and wastewater 
treatment facilities, are failing us in dangerous ways.
  To reinvigorate our economy, Congress passed the American 
Reinvestment and Recovery Act of 2009. This landmark piece of 
legislation invests in key infrastructure areas, is currently putting 
Americans back to work in the public works sector, and is improving the 
state of our nation's infrastructure.
  The Recovery Act provides $64.1 billion of investment in critical 
transportation and infrastructure programs. These investments include:
  $27.5 billion for highways and bridges;
  $8.4 billion for public transit capital investment;
  $4 billion for state water pollution control revolving funds;
  $4.6 billion for water-related infrastructure of the Corps of 
Engineers; and
  $5.575 billion for federal buildings.
  I am confident that investment in these areas will put more of our 
nation's public works professionals back to work and improve our 
economy. Just last week, the Committee on Transportation and 
Infrastructure held a hearing on the implementation of the Recovery Act 
and found that as of March 31st, more than 1,250 people have been put 
back to work in 263 highways projects in 30 states.
  As a result of our efforts, more than 1,200 families can rest more 
easily with the promise of a paycheck, and can continue to make the 
day-to-day expenditures that will help turn this economy around.
  This is the promise that Congress made to the American people--to 
invest wisely in our infrastructure systems and help the nation's 
economy recover.
  We cannot underestimate the importance of infrastructure investment. 
Quite frankly, the

[[Page H5127]]

public works professionals that we are honoring today protect our 
citizens, our economy, and our communities.
  Madam Speaker, I strongly support this resolution and urge my 
colleagues to do the same.
  Mr. BOOZMAN. After thanking the chairlady for being here and Mr. 
Oberstar for bringing this bill forward, I urge support and yield back 
the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Corrine Brown) that the House suspend the 
rules and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 313.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the 
rules were suspended and the resolution was agreed to.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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