[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 45 (Tuesday, March 23, 2010)]
[House]
[Pages H2231-H2233]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       NATIONAL PUBLIC WORKS WEEK

  Mr. PERRIELLO. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to 
the resolution (H. Res. 1125) supporting the goals and ideals of 
National Public Works Week, and for other purposes, as amended.
  The Clerk read the title of the resolution.
  The text of the resolution is as follows:

                              H. Res. 1125

       Whereas public works infrastructure, facilities, and 
     services have far-reaching effects on the United States 
     economy and the competitiveness of the United States 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 
     infrastructure of the United States garnered an overall grade 
     of ``D'';
       Whereas every $1 invested in public transportation 
     generates as much as $6 in economic returns to the economy of 
     the United States;
       Whereas the public transportation systems of the United 
     States experienced record ridership levels in 2008, the last 
     full year for which data are available, with 10,680,000,000 
     passenger trips taken;
       Whereas, in the ``2008 Conditions & Performance'' report of 
     the Department of Transportation, the Department confirms 
     that investment in United States highway, bridge, and transit 
     infrastructure has not kept up with growing demands;
       Whereas, in the ``2008 Conditions & Performance'' report of 
     the Department of Transportation, the Department found that 
     an additional $27,000,000,000 per year in capital investments 
     is needed to sustain highway conditions and performance and 
     an additional $96,000,000,000 per year in capital investments 
     is needed to make cost-effective highway improvements and 
     eliminate the existing bridge maintenance backlog;
       Whereas capital expenditures in highways, bridges, and 
     public transportation from all levels of government and the 
     private sector are over $91,450,000,000 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 United States has invested more 
     than $300,000,000,000 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 27,100,000 people with intercity 
     rail service;
       Whereas the National Surface Transportation Policy and 
     Revenue Study Commission estimates that the total capital 
     cost of reestablishing the national intercity passenger rail 
     network by 2050 is approximately $357,200,000,000 (or 
     $8,100,000,000 annually for the next 40 years);
       Whereas 21 airfield projects have opened at 18 of the 35 
     busiest airports in the United States since fiscal year 2000, 
     including 15 runways, 3 taxiways, one runway extension, one 
     completed airfield reconfiguration, and one airfield 
     reconfiguration that is two-thirds completed, and these 
     airfield projects have provided the airports with the 
     potential to accommodate 1,900,000 additional airfield 
     operations each year and decrease average delay per operation 
     by approximately 5 minutes;
       Whereas 3 airports have airfield projects under 
     construction, and an additional airport will begin 
     construction this fiscal year, and these 4 airfield projects 
     will provide the airports with the potential to accommodate 
     an additional 110,900 airfield operations each year and 
     decrease average delay per operation by approximately 1.5 
     minutes;
       Whereas transparency and accountability information 
     relating to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 
     2009 (Public Law 111-5) submitted monthly to the Committee on 
     Transportation and Infrastructure demonstrates successful 
     implementation of highway, transit, and wastewater 
     investments under the Act;
       Whereas $31,600,000,000, or 83 percent of the 
     $38,100,000,000 provided for highway, transit,

[[Page H2232]]

     and wastewater infrastructure formula programs under the 
     American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Public Law 
     111-5), has been put out to bid on 15,377 projects as of 
     January 31, 2010;
       Whereas, across the United States, as a result of the 
     American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Public Law 
     111-5) work has begun on 11,583 projects totaling 
     $25,000,000,000, or 66 percent of the total available for 
     highway, transit, and wastewater infrastructure formula 
     programs under the Act;
       Whereas the 11,583 highway, transit, and wastewater 
     infrastructure projects on which work has begun have created 
     or sustained approximately 330,000 direct jobs as of January 
     31, 2010;
       Whereas total employment from the 11,583 highway, transit, 
     and wastewater infrastructure projects on which work has 
     begun, which includes direct, indirect, and induced jobs, 
     totals more than one million jobs;
       Whereas direct job creation from highway, transit, and 
     wastewater infrastructure projects under the American 
     Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Public Law 111-5) has 
     resulted in payroll expenditures of $1,700,000,000; and
       Whereas public works professionals are observing National 
     Public Works Week from May 16 through 22, 2010: 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 50th anniversary of 
     National Public Works Week; 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 United States and to 
     recognize the substantial contributions that public works 
     professionals make to the United States.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Virginia (Mr. Perriello) and the gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. Duncan) 
each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Virginia.


                             General Leave

  Mr. PERRIELLO. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members 
may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their 
remarks and to include extraneous material on H. Res. 1125.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Virginia?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. PERRIELLO. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Res. 1125, supporting the 
goals and ideals of National Public Works Week.
  This year, we will celebrate the 50th anniversary of National Public 
Works Week. During the Great Depression, public works rose to 
prominence as a means to help stabilize our Nation by putting people to 
work to create a national infrastructure that benefited all Americans.
  Once again, our country faces similar challenges and our public works 
will help our Nation regain its footing. Every $1 we invest in public 
transportation produces nearly $6 in return for our economy. These 
investments include every realm of our infrastructure.
  In 2008, over 10 billion trips were taken on our public 
transportation systems. Commitments to airfield projects have expanded 
capacity while decreasing delays, and expenditures in wastewater 
projects have led to the construction of 16,000 treatment plants and 
800,000 miles of sanitary and storm sewers.
  We must not grow complacent. Our present infrastructure does not meet 
the needs of our country to move forward.
  In addition to recognizing the accomplishments of our public works 
professionals, this resolution highlights the need to continue moving 
our country in the right direction. We must commit to increasing the 
investment in our roads and highways that are badly underfunded while 
creating jobs that our communities so desperately need.
  These projects put Americans to work. They provide citizens with a 
stable job and a decent wage. Robert Kennedy once stated, ``We need 
jobs; dignified employment at decent pay; the kind of employment that 
lets a man say to his community, to his family, to his country, and 
most important, to himself: `I helped to build this country. I am a 
participant in its great public ventures.' ''
  Public works projects help our Nation achieve this vision, and, 
through this resolution, we celebrate those who have worked to 
strengthen our country. I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting 
H. Res. 1125.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. DUNCAN. Mr. Speaker, I recognize myself for such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this resolution, and I want to 
commend the gentleman from Virginia for introducing this resolution.
  Whether it is for aviation, navigation, flood protection, highways, 
clean water, rail, our public buildings, transportation and 
infrastructure, projects play a critical part in our daily lives. The 
benefits of public works projects and those responsible for their 
design, construction, and maintenance are not often noticed and 
appreciated, so it is very fitting that we do so today with this 
resolution.
  Much of our public works infrastructure is old and in need of 
modernization if our Nation is going to be able to compete globally in 
an environmentally sustainable manner.
  The Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, on which I have had 
the privilege of serving since I came to this Congress in 1988, was 
formerly called the Public Works and Transportation Committee. The 
Federal Government, over the last many years, has gotten involved in 
many things that it really probably shouldn't be involved in and really 
does not have the authority to be involved in under our constitution.
  I have always enjoyed my work on the Transportation and 
Infrastructure Committee because I believe there is a very legitimate 
and very important national interest in the work of that committee. 
People in California sometimes use the airports in Texas. People in 
Ohio sometimes use the roads in Tennessee. People in New York sometimes 
use the water systems in Florida, and on and on and on.
  The Transportation and Infrastructure Committee has jurisdiction over 
our water transportation system.
  Chairman Oberstar mentioned that I have been chairman of the Aviation 
Subcommittee for several years. I also chaired the Water Resources and 
Environment Subcommittee and enjoyed chairing both of those 
subcommittees.

                              {time}  1515

  Today I have the privilege of serving on the Highways and Transit 
Subcommittee, and I was at one point the ranking member many years ago 
of the Public Buildings and Grounds Subcommittee, so I have seen the 
full scope of work of this committee. But this resolution came out of 
the Water Resources and Environment Subcommittee and does emphasize 
that important part of the work.
  Our water transportation system 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, this certainly is a great threat to 
our economic prosperity.
  In addition, we can't continue to take our modern 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 way of life. Public infrastructure plays a 
critical role in enhancing our quality of life, improving our 
environment, and certainly contributes to our economic prosperity.
  We too often take these systems and the engineers and other 
professionals and administrators for granted, so it is very important 
for Congress to recognize the contribution they make to ensuring that 
America remains the world's premier economic power and that we continue 
to have the standard of living that we are so fortunate to have in this 
country. I urge all Members to support H. Res. 1125.
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. PERRIELLO. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as she may consume to 
the gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Eddie Bernice Johnson).
  Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. The National Public Works Week is 
celebrated each year during the month of May, and it has been 
designated by a number of organizations to celebrate our public works 
professionals and the critical work they do to

[[Page H2233]]

keep our infrastructure and transportation systems working efficiently 
and economically. House Resolution 1125 pays tribute to these 
professionals, recognizing their work the week of May 16-22, 2010.
  Public works are loosely defined as projects that are carried out for 
the public good, aptly named because they enable the public to complete 
its work. Hazardous materials, pipelines, and municipal infrastructures 
such as water supply infrastructure and sewage and refuge disposal 
systems, and transportation systems such as rail, highways, airports, 
and public transit, all fall under the public works umbrella.
  Public works are vital to our Nation. Our commerce depends on the 
shipment of goods through rail, on our roads, and through air.
  Public transportation provides many with a cost-effective way to 
travel while also reducing harmful effects on our environment.
  Our public health depends on our water supply infrastructure as well 
as our sewage and disposal systems.
  For the importance that they play in our daily lives, our 
transportation and infrastructure systems and facilities often do not 
receive the recognition they deserve. Although public works are 
depended upon daily, they receive no glory or praise when accomplishing 
the job. Rather, many only pay attention to these public works when 
they fail, such as levee failures that result in flooded communities.
  I recognize the importance of public works for our communities and 
our country, and I am grateful to the administrators, engineers, and 
servicemen who continue to utilize their skills and provide hours of 
service and dedication to ensure these necessary facilities and systems 
work for our Nation. I support this resolution strongly and I urge my 
colleagues to support it as well.
  Mr. OBERSTAR. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Res. 1125, 
as amended, supporting the goals and ideals of National Public Works 
Week, offered by the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Perriello).
  Our Nation's public works, consisting of transportation systems, 
water supply infrastructure, sewage and refuse disposal systems, public 
buildings, and other structures and facilities, help our country 
function in an efficient and effective manner. Just as public works 
support our economy, our public health, and our communities' 
livelihood, we must support the many public works professionals who 
design, build, operate, maintain, and protect these systems and 
structures.
  H. Res. 1125 pays tribute to these public works professionals, 
celebrating their work the week of May 16 through 22, 2010.
  Without our vast network of rail, highways, airports, and public 
transit, our industries would not have the reach that they currently 
utilize each day. Without our water supply systems, or our sewage and 
waste disposal facilities, our communities would not be able to exist 
and thrive.
  Without public works, quite simply, our nation would suffer.
  Simple conveniences that we may take for granted--running water in 
our homes and even the Washington D.C. Metro system that many of our 
constituents utilize every year when visiting our Nation's Capitol--
could not function properly without the dedicated work of the public 
works professionals who keep these systems operating on a daily basis.
  Indeed, it is often only when our systems and facilities fail to work 
consistently that we notice their importance in our daily routines.
  It is no secret that this body has long recognized the importance of 
our Nation's infrastructure. In fact, in the 111th Congress, we have 
placed an emphasis on reinvigorating our infrastructure systems and 
revitalizing our economy by investing in our Nation's public works 
sector.
  I am pleased to note the significant investments in our 
infrastructure that have been made by the American Reinvestnent and 
Recovery Act (Recovery Act) (P.L. 111-5). Of the $64.1 billion invested 
by the Recovery Act in critical transportation and infrastructure 
programs under the Committee's jurisdiction, Federal, State and local 
agencies administering programs within the Committee's jurisdiction 
have announced 16,692 transportation and other infrastructure projects 
totaling $56 billion.
  These investments have proven to be critical to job creation in the 
past year and our public works systems have greatly benefited from 
them.
  I urge my colleagues to join with me in supporting H. Res. 1125.
  Mr. DUNCAN. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this 
resolution, and I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. PERRIELLO. Mr. Speaker, I urge all my colleagues to support this 
resolution, and I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Perriello) that the House suspend the 
rules and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 1125, as amended.
  The question was taken.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds 
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
  Mr. DUNCAN. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
  The yeas and nays were ordered.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX and the 
Chair's prior announcement, further proceedings on this motion will be 
postponed.

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