[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 95 (Thursday, June 21, 2012)]
[House]
[Page H3918]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
{time} 0910
AMERICA'S HIGHWAY AND TRANSIT PROGRAMS
(Mr. CLEAVER asked and was given permission to address the House for
1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
Mr. CLEAVER. Mr. Speaker, unless we act now, the highway and transit
programs will expire in a few days, endangering our roads, bridges,
transit systems; and everyone who uses them will experience a decline
in what they view as America.
So I would like to list the reasons we need to move quickly to pass a
highway bill that is not simply an extension. One, we must raise
America's standing in the world of infrastructure from 24th place to
first. Three months ago, the Senate passed a responsible, bipartisan 2-
year transportation bill that would save or create 2 million jobs. We
have 2.2 million construction and manufacturing workers out of work;
$1,060 is how much we could save each family in transportation costs if
we could come to an agreement. H.R. 7 was called by my friend Secretary
LaHood ``the most partisan transportation bill that (he had) ever seen,
the worst transportation bill.''
Mr. Speaker, I have more points. I will try to get them in later.
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