[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 176 (Monday, December 7, 2015)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1715-E1716]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 CONFERENCE REPORT ON H.R. 22, SURFACE TRANSPORTATION REAUTHORIZATION 
                         AND REFORM ACT OF 2015

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                       HON. LUCILLE ROYBAL-ALLARD

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, December 3, 2015

  Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the Conference 
Report on H.R. 22, The Fixing America's Surface Transportation Act. 
This agreement is long overdue, as communities across the country have 
been clamoring for a long-term funding bill that provides certainty to 
infrastructure projects across the country, rather than trying to pay 
for these projects with flat-line funding and short-term extensions.
  This legislative measure provides $281 billion in guaranteed funding 
for highway, transit, and transportation safety programs for five 
years. This funding will keep these programs solvent for the entire 
five-year period. In addition, the agreement provides $24 billion from 
the General Fund, including $11.5 billion to be used for transit New 
Starts projects and $10.4 billion for Amtrak and intercity passenger 
rail grants. Thanks to this measure, California will receive $19.4 
billion in highway funding and $6.8 billion in transit funding over the 
five-year period.
  I am also proud to support the four-year reauthorization of the 
Export-Import Bank included in this conference report. This bank 
supports millions of dollars in exports by 40th District businesses, 
and helps level the playing field for American businesses to better 
compete in today's ever-growing, interconnected economy. I applaud the 
bipartisan effort which was so critical to including the bank's 
reauthorization in this agreement, and I look forward to witnessing the 
bank's further success and its continued support for American 
businesses.
  However, this package is not perfect. The reality is our country 
needs an even more robust investment in infrastructure than what is 
provided through this measure. I also have concerns about the funding 
provisions in this bill. For example, it indexes Customs User Fees to 
inflation and uses them to offset the cost of the bill at a time when 
these fees are needed for expenses related to staffing at our borders.
  Nevertheless, I hope that the funding stability this agreement 
provides will allow us to look ahead to the long-term solvency of the 
highway and transit programs. Congress should utilize the five-year 
authorization period to develop a reliable and reasonable funding 
mechanism to pay for future reauthorizations that eliminates the need 
for multiple short-term extensions. I believe this bipartisan 
legislation is a step in the right direction, and I urge all members to 
support this agreement.

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