[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 157 (Friday, December 3, 2010)]
[Senate]
[Page S8476]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        LIVABLE COMMUNITIES ACT

  Mr. BENNETT. Mr. President, I rise today to salute a number of 
organizations from my home State of Utah that have demonstrated vision 
as they plan for the needs of our future. Utah is one of the fastest 
growing States in the country. Our rapid population growth is 
attributed to both the area's high birth rate and to in-migration. We 
have a strong economy and have continued to attract workers during the 
recent economic recession. Yet even as we grow, our transportation 
system has not buckled under the pressure of explosive development. 
Regional and community planners, as well as business and political 
leaders have been looking forward to plan and meet the transportation 
infrastructure needs of our growing population. Our transit system of 
buses, vans, light rail and commuter rail is unparalleled and I am 
proud of the role I played in bringing TRAX and FrontRunner, our light 
rail and commuter rail services to the Wasatch Front. Last Thursday, 
November 25, 2010, marked 10 years that TRAX has been serving our 
communities. This expanding network has brought new possibilities to 
our residents and creates an economic rebirth in each community it 
touches.
  There are a number of lessons that other areas can learn from the 
success of Utah's transit expansion. Planning for the needs of a 
changing population should be the standard, rather than the exception 
in every community. Recently, Utah was again recognized for its 
innovative planning. Last month the U.S. Department of Housing and 
Urban Development, HUD, announced a $5 million award to support the 
creation of more livable and sustainable communities along the Wasatch 
Front. This funding will support development of a regional housing plan 
through a new initiative intended to build economic competitiveness by 
connecting housing with good jobs, quality schools and transportation. 
This grant is part of a new Federal Partnership for Sustainable 
Communities, which brings EPA, HUD, USDA and DOT together to ensure 
that the agencies' policies, programs, and funding consider affordable 
housing, transportation, and environmental protection together. I 
support the efforts of this interagency collaboration designed to get 
better results for American communities and to use taxpayer money more 
efficiently. I salute the Utah organizations whose vision brought this 
important grant to our State. The Utah consortium behind the grant is 
made up of the following partners--the Wasatch Front Regional Council, 
Mountainland Association of Governments, Envision Utah, the Utah 
Department of Transportation, UDOT, Utah Transit Authority, UTA, Salt 
Lake County, Salt Lake City, University of Utah's Metropolitan Research 
Center and Bureau of Economic and Business Research, the Utah Chapter 
of the American Planning Association and other public and private 
sector partners. These visionaries joined together to apply for this 
grant through a nationwide competitive process to implement the growth 
strategies and vision in the region.
  Over the past decade, public, private, academic and community leaders 
in Utah developed quality growth strategies for the Salt Lake 
metropolitan region. In 2010, they developed and adopted a regional 
vision, the Wasatch Choice for 2040, which is a blueprint for our 
region's future. The sustainable communities grant Utah received will 
help make that blueprint a reality.
  My friend and colleague, Senator Dodd of Connecticut has introduced 
legislation that would create more of these grants, and go a step 
further by creating an Office of Sustainable Housing and Communities. 
This office would oversee efforts to help local communities plan for 
and create better and more affordable places to live, work, and raise 
families. The legislation would incentivize communities to make 
regional plans like Utah's Wasatch Choice for 2040 and would fund 
sustainable development projects. I believe that with effective 
policies to encourage sustainable development, our communities will cut 
traffic congestion; reduce greenhouse gas emissions and gasoline 
consumption; protect rural areas and green spaces; revitalize existing 
Main Streets and urban centers; and create more affordable housing.
  While I strongly support many of the ideas in this legislation, I 
have not added myself as a cosponsor, because of some concerns that 
have been raised. First and foremost, during this time of out of 
control spending, I feel it would be irresponsible of me to support the 
legislation without a plan to pay for the new spending it would create. 
It is my hope that some sort of a livable communities component will be 
included in a much needed transportation authorization bill that 
Congress should consider next year. This discussion of the future of 
the highway trust fund should also address the important of local 
planning efforts. I would also like to see a greater voice for small 
businesses and affected industries that would no doubt be greatly 
affected by the policies set in an effort to encourage sustainability. 
There are many important interests that need to be considered and 
included in the discussion.
  The partnership between the Utah Transit Authority and our local, 
regional and State transportation planning organizations is a great 
example for many States. I feel confident that Utah will use the 
livable communities grant we are going to receive to continue to lead 
the nation in transportation and infrastructure planning. I urge my 
colleagues to give full consideration and take the time to learn and 
debate the ideas proposed in my friend Senator Dodd's legislation, S. 
1619, the Livable Communities Act.

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