[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 101 (Monday, July 9, 2012)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1205-E1206]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 CONFERENCE REPORT ON H.R. 4348, MOVING AHEAD FOR PROGRESS IN THE 21ST 
                              CENTURY ACT

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                       HON. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, June 29, 2012

  Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Madam Speaker, I would like to 
voice my support for the transportation reauthorization conference 
report. While I was disappointed in how House Republicans broke with 
the tradition of working in a bipartisan fashion on transportation 
policy, I appreciate the Senate's bipartisan approach, which is 
responsible in large part for the bill we have today. In addition to 
the transportation reauthorization, we have been able to come together 
to prevent student loan interest rates from increasing, and secure a 
five-year reauthorization of the Flood Insurance program. It is my hope 
that moving forward we can look at this conference agreement as a model 
of what can be accomplished legislatively by seeking bipartisan, 
bicameral common ground.
  But as with all legislation, there were many compromises, and there 
were several aspects of the report which I believe could further be 
improved. On balance, however, the conference report contains needed 
policy direction and authorizations that warrant support.
  Most importantly, transportation reauthorization will provide much 
needed stimulus to local economies, and get those in the construction 
and manufacturing industries back to work. This bill will create or 
save more than 2 million jobs, and authorize highway and transit 
programs for more than two years. The bill will also make key reforms 
in consolidating transportation programs, cut red tape, and leverage 
federal resources to expand public-private partnerships in 
transportation.
  This is also a good bill for Texas. Under this agreement, Texas is 
slated to receive more than $3 billion annually in highway formula 
funds. Unlike the original House legislation, H.R. 7, this conference 
agreement preserves mass transit funding through the Highway Trust 
Fund. Funding for mass transit is critical for my district, and Texas 
as a whole, as we work to develop solutions to alleviate congestion and 
alternative modes of transportation to accommodate a growing 
population. Texas has also been very successful in utilizing 
Transportation Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act, TIFIA, 
funding, and will continue to benefit under the conference agreement, 
which increases funding for the TIFIA program to $750 million for FY 
2013 and to $1 billion for FY 2014. It also increases the maximum share 
of project costs that can be funded through the TIFIA program from 33 
percent to 49 percent. This agreement will give the Texas Department of 
Transportation, local transit agencies, and contractors some much-
needed certainty as they plan transportation projects.
  This agreement will also give 461,533 Texas students relief from the 
impending student loan interest increase. I am very pleased that 
provisions blocking the rate hike are included in the conference 
report. In Texas and all across the country, students and recent 
college graduates are now facing the highest

[[Page E1206]]

unemployment rate of any other group. Without action, the loan rates 
for 7.4 million college students would have doubled, adding $6.3 
billion to students' debt burden in one year alone.
  As the Ranking Member of the Committee on Science, Space, and 
Technology, I recognize that the long-term viability of our 
transportation system requires a continued commitment to quality 
research and the development of new transportation technologies and 
materials that will make our transportation infrastructure--and the 
vehicles traveling on that infrastructure--safer, stronger, and more 
sustainable. I am pleased that the conference report acknowledges the 
important role of research and development across the Department of 
Transportation.
  Specifically, we cannot deny that our current transportation system 
places an enormous burden on the environment and public health, and 
therefore, I am pleased that the conference report authorizes a 
separate environmental research program within the Federal Highway 
Administration. At a time when many metropolitan regions are still 
struggling to meet basic health standards for air pollution, we cannot 
afford to stop research that will lead to a cleaner, safer, and more 
efficient highway system. The research conducted under this program 
will ensure that State and local transportation officials have the 
tools they need to make informed and effective decisions about local 
transportation projects and the environment.
  I also want to express my satisfaction that the conference report 
provides the framework and guidance necessary to allow us to begin to 
really understand and, more importantly, mitigate the long-term impacts 
of the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill on the Gulf Coast States. Regardless 
of whether you live in the coastal communities of Texas, Alabama, 
Louisiana, Mississippi, or Florida, the Gulf of Mexico provides a 
wealth of products and services that benefit the entire nation. The 
Gulf Coast Restoration Trust Fund will provide the resources necessary 
to restore the health of this unique ecosystem and revitalize the 
region's economy.
  Finally, I would like to thank my colleagues for working with me to 
fix a technical error in the authorization levels for the research 
programs under the Federal Highway Administration. In the conference 
committee's haste to put together the report, it appears that the 
authorization levels in the Research and Education Division were not 
updated accordingly, but thankfully this oversight has been addressed.

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