[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 105 (Thursday, July 14, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1328]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


 ENERGY AND WATER DEVELOPMENT AND RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 
                                  2012

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                        HON. DAVID N. CICILLINE

                            of rhode island

                    in the house of representatives

                          Friday, July 8, 2011

       The House in Committee of the Whole House on the State of 
     the Union had under consideration the bill (H.R. 2354) making 
     appropriations for energy and water development and related 
     agencies for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2012, and 
     for other purposes:

  Mr. CICILLINE. Mr. Chair, I submit these remarks in opposition to 
provisions in Title V of the Energy and Water Appropriations measure 
(H.R. 2354) that would rescind unobligated High Speed Rail funds.
  Indeed the recent storms and flooding that have ravaged the 
Mississippi and Missouri River Basins warrant the immediate attention 
and relief provided by Emergency Supplemental Funding in Title V. And 
as a representative from Rhode Island, a state that itself suffered and 
continues to recover from record level flooding in 2010, I 
wholeheartedly recognize the importance of this funding, which will 
enable the Corps of Engineers to repair the damage done by these 
natural disasters.
  However, as Ranking Members Dicks and Visclosky noted in their views 
on the underlying bill, H.R. 2354, I too am disappointed by the 
decision to offset this important disaster relief funding by rescinding 
unobligated High Speed Rail funds. Time and again Congress has rightly 
responded to natural disasters with the emergency funding that 
facilitates recovery in our communities and reconstruction of critical 
infrastructure. As a Congress, we must respond to natural disasters 
with the resources it takes, and we must responsibly reduce the 
deficit. Yet, we must also make the necessary investments that will 
create jobs now and guarantee the future strength of our economy.
  The fact that our Nation's investment in High Speed Rail remains a 
target for the budget chopping block is not just disappointing--it is a 
threat to our economy. We have to commit to paying down our debt. But, 
we must also commit to putting people back to work, supporting our 
infrastructure, and ensuring our Nation's ability to compete in the 
global economy. Some estimates say that each month we spend 
approximately $8 billion in Afghanistan--just think about that. In just 
2 months worth of spending in Afghanistan, we exceed our Nation's 
entire investment in High Speed Rail. Each year, taxpayers dole out $4 
billion in subsidies to big oil companies who continue to enjoy record 
profits, and yet here we are, stripping communities of critically 
important infrastructure dollars.
  High Speed Rail is not some far-fetched fantasy, or a transportation 
solution that should be considered more of a luxury than a national 
priority. High Speed Rail is a reality. And while we hesitate to get on 
board, our competitor nations are charging further and further ahead of 
us. We've seen it in the headlines time and again. China now has the 
world's fastest conventional high-speed trains and longest network of 
tracks. Next year, just 4 years after beginning its High Speed Rail 
service, China will have more track than all of the world's high speed 
lines combined.
  High Speed Rail creates construction jobs in the maintenance and 
operations jobs in the long term, and indirect jobs by growing access 
to greater labor pools and driving new economic development. High Speed 
Rail reduces congestion on our highways and skyways. These are key 
investments to ensure that America has a fast, safe, and efficient 
transportation network. And at a time when press reports as recently as 
this morning indicate states like Rhode Island are experiencing a rise 
in gas prices again, High Speed Rail provides a logical alternative to 
our oil addiction.
  For the First Congressional District in Rhode Island, the provisions 
of Title V will strip away $3 million in High Speed Rail funds. For the 
state as a whole, it is estimated this Title will rescind more than $28 
million in rail funding. This rescission occurs less than 2\1/2\ months 
after the initial announcement of the allocation to the Ocean State. 
Not only is Rhode Island battling high rates of unemployment--some of 
the highest in New England--and a sluggish economic recovery, we now 
have to battle against the uncertainty and unpredictability created by 
unwarranted rescissions such as the one before us now in Title V. All 
told, it is estimated that this rescission will result in the loss of 
hundreds jobs in my state alone.
  As a former Mayor, I know how detrimental this loss in High Speed 
Rail is for my district, the state of Rhode Island, the Northeast 
Corridor, and the Nation as a whole. For the city of Providence and the 
state of Rhode Island, High Speed Rail is a critically important 
component in efforts to attract the private investment that will help 
sustain and grow our economy; rebuild the infrastructure that will 
allow for efficient and timely transport of goods, people, and ideas; 
and place people in well-paying middle class jobs. Cities and states 
all across this country are relying on this investment to help improve 
their economies, relieve transportation congestion, reduce our 
dependence on foreign oil, and compete in the global economy. 
Unfortunately, the offset contemplated in Title V will derail these 
efforts.
  I strongly urge my colleagues to vote against this offset because we 
must not fall further behind as our competitors speed ahead in the 
global economy.

                          ____________________