[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 48 (Thursday, March 22, 2012)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E418]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                 VOTE ON THE SENATE TRANSPORTATION BILL

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                         HON. CHRIS VAN HOLLEN

                              of maryland

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, March 22, 2012

  Mr. VAN HOLLEN. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the motion to move 
the previous question to allow for debate and a vote on the Senate 
transportation bill.
  With millions of Americans still unemployed through no fault of their 
own, what is the House considering today? In the Budget Committee, we 
are discussing a budget that slashes targeted investments in 
transportation, scientific research, and education to give additional 
tax breaks to the wealthiest Americans. The proposed budget also 
dismantles the Medicare guarantee, transferring rising costs of care to 
seniors. And on the House floor, we have another attempt to repeal 
parts of the Affordable Care Act, this time targeting a provision in 
the law that would address real, systemic health care costs. This is 
not an agenda that creates jobs or grows our economy.
  Instead, we should bring forward the Senate transportation bill that 
received an overwhelming bipartisan vote of 74 22 last week. This bill 
would invest in critical infrastructure projects, supporting over 1.8 
million jobs nationwide and over 28,000 in my home state of Maryland. 
It would help revive the construction industry, which continues to face 
17.1 percent unemployment. And it would make our Nation's 
transportation system safer and more efficient.
  Mr. Speaker, we must focus our agenda on improving the economy and 
putting Americans back to work. We have a bipartisan solution to do 
just that--let's bring it to the Floor.

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