[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 89 (Thursday, June 4, 2015)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E841]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  TRANSPORTATION, HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT, AND RELATED AGENCIES 
                        APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2016

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                               speech of

                         HON. LINDA T. SANCHEZ

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, June 3, 2015

       The House in Committee of the Whole House on the state of 
     the Union had under consideration the bill (H.R. 2577) making 
     appropriations for the Departments of Transportation, and 
     Housing and Urban Development, and related agencies for the 
     fiscal year ending September 30, 2016, and for other 
     purposes:

  Ms. LINDA T. SANCHEZ of California. Mr. Chair, I rise today to speak 
in opposition of the proposed cuts to the Transportation Infrastructure 
Generating Economic Recovery Program (TIGER) under the Fiscal Year 2016 
Transportation Housing and Urban Development (THUD) Appropriations 
bill.
  Since 2009, the Department of Transportation has provided state and 
local governments with grants to complete infrastructure projects. Many 
communities have profited from these investments, providing 
neighborhoods with safer pedestrian pathways, revitalizing economically 
distressed areas, and reducing congestion from traffic.
  TIGER grants are meant to provide eligibility to infrastructure 
projects that do not qualify for restrictive formula based federal 
funding. Freight, port, and bridge projects across the country have 
benefited from financial support from TIGER. Reducing accessibility to 
TIGER grants will prolong infrastructure projects and increase traffic 
in our communities.
  The House FY16 THUD appropriations bill includes $100 million for 
TIGER grants. This is a $400 million reduction from the 2015 enacted 
level, cutting the Department of Transportation's budget by 80%.
  Severe cuts to TIGER are troubling, and substantial funding for the 
program is crucial to my District. For example, the Durfee Avenue grade 
separation proposal in Pico Rivera would reduce an estimated 15.3 hours 
of vehicle delays on a daily basis. Rosemead Boulevard/Lakewood 
Boulevard in my District carries tens of thousands of cars every day, 
providing goods movement to the Gateway cities. The Del Amo Boulevard 
bridge is structurally deficient, outdated, and in need of maintenance 
to improve lane capacity problems.
  I ask that my colleagues join me in opposing the 80% cuts to TIGER 
grants and language restricting TIGER eligibility in the HOUSE FY16 
THUD bill. Providing funding for these and other TIGER projects are 
about providing services that communities deserve.

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