[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 31 (Thursday, March 3, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E418]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              SURFACE TRANSPORTATION EXTENSION ACT OF 2011

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                               speech of

                         HON. CANDICE S. MILLER

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, March 2, 2011

  Mrs. MILLER of Michigan. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of 
H.R. 662--The Surface Transportation Extension Act of 2011. This bill 
provides much needed funding to keep the transportation projects in our 
nation going and provides assurance to State Departments of 
Transportation that vital infrastructure projects can continue without 
delay. Additionally, this bill buys the House time to put together a 
comprehensive, longer term surface transportation bill that can 
adequately address the needs and challenges facing this nation.
  I look forward to working on a new surface transportation bill with 
Highways and Transit Subcommittee Chairman Duncan and with Chairman 
Mica's leadership along with our colleagues on the full Committee.
  I am confident that our Committee will put together a bill that will 
meet the serious challenges we face in maintaining and improving our 
infrastructure. I am also confident that we will have the appropriate 
focus on what we must do to help move our economy forward and the 
elimination of earmarks will allow us to develop strong legislation 
that focuses more on need instead of narrow interests.
  Throughout history economic growth has followed our transportation 
grid. Whether it was sea routes, canals, wagon trains, rail, roads and 
airlinks, growth in our economy has always been dependent on our 
transportation infrastructure.
  I believe this will help to ensure that the most needed projects get 
funding and help to eliminate any unnecessary projects.
  Madam Speaker, it is critical that we make sure that spending stays 
in line with revenues, and one way in which to do this is to prevent 
the use of ``donor states,'' or states that give more to the Highway 
Trust Fund than they receive. My home state of Michigan is such a donor 
state, and we and other donor states have for too long been at the 
short end of funding for projects.
  My state of Michigan has been ground zero for this difficult economy. 
We have had among the highest unemployment rates for many years and it 
is simply unacceptable that hard-working Michigan taxpayers are asked 
to subsidize transportation funding for states that have not been 
nearly as hard hit.
  This extension is our first step in the process and I urge all of my 
colleagues to support this legislation so that we can continue our 
important work to develop the best transportation network in the world.

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