[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 94 (Wednesday, June 20, 2012)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1098]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


   MOTION TO INSTRUCT CONFEREES ON H.R. 4348, SURFACE TRANSPORTATION 
                     EXTENSION ACT OF 2012, PART II

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                               speech of

                       HON. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, June 19, 2012

  Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise to speak in support of 
Congressman Walz's Motion to Instruct Conferees on H.R. 4348, the 
surface transportation reauthorization bill. This motion would instruct 
conferees to resolve all issues and file a conference report no later 
than Friday, June 22nd. June 22nd is exactly 100 days since the Senate 
passed its bipartisan surface transportation bill by an overwhelming 
vote of 74 22. As a conferee to the transportation bill, I support this 
motion as we simply cannot afford to further delay this critical 
legislation.
  This conference process has been bogged down by House GOP conferees, 
who are obstructing the process and standing in the way of the jobs 
that would be created by passage of this bill. We are in the height of 
the summer construction season, and without a transportation bill, we 
are wasting an opportunity to spur our manufacturing sector and get 
those in the construction industry back to work.
  Mr. Speaker, if House Republican conferees are going to stand in the 
way of a conference report, I ask that you call up S. 1813, the Senate-
passed MAP 21. We do not need another piecemeal extension. We need a 
comprehensive reauthorization.

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