[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 77 (Tuesday, May 19, 2015)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E750]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


 INTRODUCTION OF H.R. 2410, THE ``GENERATING RENEWAL, OPPORTUNITY, AND 
     WORK WITH ACCELERATED MOBILITY, EFFICIENCY, AND REBUILDING OF 
 INFRASTRUCTURE AND COMMUNITIES THROUGHOUT AMERICA ACT'' (GROW AMERICA 
                                  ACT)

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. PETER A. DeFAZIO

                               of oregon

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, May 19, 2015

  Mr. DeFAZIO. Mr. Speaker, today I, along with many of my colleagues 
on the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, are introducing 
H.R. 2410, the ``Generating Renewal, Opportunity, and Work with 
Accelerated Mobility, Efficiency, and Rebuilding of Infrastructure and 
Communities throughout America Act'' (GROW AMERICA Act).
  This legislation represents the Administration's six-year surface 
reauthorization proposal. We introduce this legislation by request, as 
it is the policy work of the Administration. By introducing it, we are 
putting our stamp of approval on the vision that this proposal offers--
robust funding levels in a long-term bill to provide sustainable 
solutions to our Nation's infrastructure crisis.
  Today, the House voted on a two-month short-term extension of 
highway, transit, and highway safety programs. Congress has had 10 
months since the enactment of the last extension in July 2014 to 
produce a long-term bill, or at least to make significant progress in 
identifying sustainable revenues to shore up the Highway Trust Fund. 
The Republican Leadership has produced neither. The Committee on Ways 
and Means could not so much as hold a hearing on this topic in the past 
10 months.
  It is no surprise, therefore, that this House cannot come to 
agreement on $11 billion in offsets to keep surface transportation 
programs afloat through the end of this year, which would provide 
certainty to the construction industry and its workers during their 
busiest season. Here we are, in the middle of another construction 
season, and Congress is unable--or unwilling--to consider more than a 
short-term patch.
  We can't kick the can down the road anymore. There is no road left. 
The revenues we collect are insufficient to meet our needs. The 
Congressional Budget Office estimates that the shortfall in the Highway 
Trust Fund is $172 billion over the next 10 years just to maintain 
current funding levels. If Congress passes a six-year bill, the gap is 
$92 billion.
  This gap only accounts for status quo funding. Finding an additional 
$92 billion will not provide enough funds to make substantial 
improvements to our infrastructure or address the ballooning backlog in 
highway, bridge, and transit state of good repair. It does not provide 
new investments in freight.
  H.R. 2410 goes beyond the status quo and will move our Nation into 
the 21st century. The bill provides a total of $478 billion over six 
years, a 45 percent increase for highways, bridges, public 
transportation, highway safety, and rail programs. Over six years, the 
GROW AMERICA Act makes significant investments in:
  Highways--provides $317 billion for programs under the Federal 
Highway Administration (FHWA), an increase of 29 percent over current 
levels.
  Freight--dedicates $18 billion for a new dedicated multi-modal 
freight program.
  Transit--provides $115 billion for programs under the Federal Transit 
Administration (FTA), an increase of 76 percent over current levels, 
and significantly boosts New Starts funding.
  Rail--provides $28.6 billion for programs under the Federal Rail 
Administration (FRA).
  Safety--provides $6 billion for vehicle safety programs under the 
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), $4.7 billion 
for truck and bus safety programs under the Federal Motor Carrier 
Safety Administration (FMCSA), and $16 billion for the Highway Safety 
Improvement Program (HSIP).
  Competitive Grants--provides $7.5 billion for TIGER grants and $6 
billion for TIFIA that could support $60 billion in loans.
  Research and Innovation--provides $3.4 billion to leverage research 
and innovation to move people and goods more safely and efficiently, 
while minimizing impacts on the environment.
  Federal lands--provides $150 million for a Nationally Significant 
Federal Lands and Tribal Projects program, to address project needs on 
Federal lands.
  In addition to these critical investments in the Nation's intermodal 
surface transportation network, H.R. 2410 also includes a number of 
important policy provisions that ensure that surface transportation 
investments create good paying American jobs. These include tightening 
Buy America loopholes, funding workforce development, allowing local 
hire, and strengthening wage and hour laws for truck and bus drivers.
  There are provisions in this proposal that I do not support, and may 
give some of my colleagues pause. Specifically, I strongly oppose 
eliminating the prohibition on tolling of existing free Interstate 
highways for reconstruction of an existing facility. The proposal also 
extends the deadline for Positive Train Control implementation. Given 
last week's tragic Amtrak crash, Congress should be coming together to 
find ways to fund expedited PTC implementation, not pushing the 
compliance date farther into the future. Other provisions, such as Buy 
America waivers for rail rolling stock, and elimination of statutory 
hours of service provisions for rail workers, also cause concern.
  Nevertheless, the Administration's bill provides a great starting 
point--an opportunity for this Congress to come together to 
significantly increase infrastructure investment over the long term. I 
look forward to working in a bipartisan manner with Chairman Shuster 
and our colleagues on the Committee on Transportation and 
Infrastructure as we develop new surface transportation legislation.

                          ____________________