[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 138 (Tuesday, September 29, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2381]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              SURFACE TRANSPORTATION EXTENSION ACT OF 2009

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                         HON. LAURA RICHARDSON

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                     Wednesday, September 23, 2009

  Ms. RICHARDSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise to lend my voice in support of 
the Surface Transportation Extension we are considering today. We must 
continue to fund ongoing projects and ensure ongoing programs don't 
grind to a halt. However we must continue to build on the work of the 
Transportation and Infrastructure Committee and reauthorize our surface 
transportation programs. Transportation is an issue that affects 
virtually every American every day and should never be put on the back 
burner. When I came to Congress I fought to become a member of the 
Transportation and Infrastructure Committee because I know the 
importance of these issues for the people of the California 37th as 
well as every American. I support limiting the extension to 3 months so 
these issues stay on the forefront of our agenda.
  Report after report has outlined the unacceptable current state of 
our deteriorating transportation system and called for major and 
immediate reform. As a country we waste billions of dollars every year 
with unnecessary delays due to a crumbling and over-congested surface 
transportation system. We need to fundamentally rethink the way we move 
people and goods. We must simplify our transportation programs and 
focus on a performance based system. Finally, we must make the tough 
choices about how to fund these programs and avoid having to 
continuously patch the highway trust fund.
  Transportation experts around the country agree this is a time for a 
bold new transportation vision and I look forward to working with my 
colleagues to reauthorize the Surface Transportation Program before the 
extension before us today runs out.

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