[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 135 (Tuesday, September 13, 2011)]
[House]
[Page H6102]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    REBUILDING AND RENEWING AMERICA

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
Oregon (Mr. Blumenauer) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. BLUMENAUER. Mr. Speaker, there has been much talk about jobs and 
economic recovery--sadly, more talk than action.
  Today's consideration of extending the Surface Transportation Act and 
the FAA Authorization, both of which have expired, is a positive 
development. It puts a little more certainty for our partners in the 
State and local government. It avoids disastrous revenue losses. It's a 
positive signal of cooperation, with Chairs Mica and Boxer working with 
Majority Leader Reid and Speaker Boehner. And it leaves important 
policies intact.
  The 1991 ISTEA framework has proven effective in meeting 
transportation needs and providing economic activity. But now let's 
concentrate on what we do need.
  We need more money, not less. Certainly we must reject the 30 percent 
transportation cut that is called for in the Republican budget, or a 34 
percent reduction that's called for in the Transportation 
appropriations bill that is being considered. We need longer-term 
legislation, not shorter. Three months for aviation, 6 months for 
transportation is better than what we've been putting up with, but 
certainly not what our partners deserve.
  Finally, we need more partnerships with our regional engines of 
growth at the local level, not a pullback by the Federal Government. We 
need a full reauthorization, one that is right sized for America's 
needs. We need to be more ambitious in terms of what we spend. Remember 
all the expert bipartisan commissions that called for much greater 
levels of investment 5 years ago. The need has not declined at all.

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  We can and we should combine these efforts with deficit reduction and 
economic recovery. This is what happened with Ronald Reagan in 1982, 
with Bill Clinton in 1993, what was called for by Simpson and Bowles, 
the cochairs of President Obama's deficit reduction commission.
  Make no mistake. Unmet infrastructure needs threaten the health and 
safety of our communities, our environment, and our global 
competitiveness. Congress will find a tremendous coalition supporting 
bold action from the business community, organized labor, contractors, 
environmentalists, engineers, architects, local government. The list is 
extensive, broad, and the commitment is deep. Many communities and some 
States have already stepped up on their own.
  It's now time for the Federal Government to be a better partner, 
reclaiming the legacy of Abraham Lincoln, Teddy Roosevelt, Franklin 
Roosevelt, and Eisenhower, back when infrastructure investment was not 
partisan or particularly controversial, but a national vision that 
brought us together.
  We can begin by passing this legislation later this afternoon. We 
need to move to a larger and a longer term agenda as we rebuild and 
renew America, jump-start the economy, and make our families safer, 
healthier, and more economically secure.

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