[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 115 (Thursday, July 1, 2021)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E733-E734]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




       INVESTING IN A NEW VISION FOR THE ENVIRONMENT AND SURFACE 
                     TRANSPORTATION IN AMERICA ACT

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                     HON. ROBERT C. ``BOBBY'' SCOTT

                              of virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, June 30, 2021

  Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the INVEST 
in America Act.
  I want to thank Chairman DeFazio for bringing this bill to the floor. 
I represent the 3rd

[[Page E734]]

congressional district of Virginia where the Chesapeake Bay meets the 
James, Nansemond, and Elizabeth Rivers. This location presents both 
challenges and opportunities. My district is home to the Port of 
Virginia, one of the largest and busiest ports on the eastern seaboard. 
With 95 percent of our nation's trade moving by water, it is essential 
that the port is able to maintain operations.
  Unfortunately, due to sea level rise, both attributable to climate 
change as well as historic subsidence, these same waterways also pose a 
serious risk. State and local elected officials in Virginia already 
appreciate the significant threat sea level rise poses to Hampton 
Roads. Unfortunately, the cost to proactively and aggressively address 
this problem head-on is far too great for any city to bear by itself. 
While Hampton Roads has already spent considerable sums of money to 
address the rising water and implement resilient infrastructure where 
feasible, the scope of the entire project to actually address the 
problem is expected to total in the billions of dollars.
  Hampton Roads is also home to significant traffic backups throughout 
the region, especially at waterway crossings. The widening of the 
Hampton Roads Bridge Tunnel is primarily being financed with local and 
state revenue from sales and gasoline taxes in the Hampton Roads 
Transportation Fund but it requires federal support. There are limits 
to how these major transportation projects can move forward without 
federal assistance. For example, the Downtown and Midtown Tunnels, 
connecting the cities of Norfolk and Portsmouth, were in such a state 
of disrepair and need of expansion that the Commonwealth had few 
options other than to enter into a lopsided private-public partnership 
leading to egregious tolls for decades to come. The Hampton Roads 
region is also in vital need of public transit investments. Our 
airports, roads, and bridges are in need of repair and I would urge the 
committee to commit crucial federal support for infrastructure in every 
state.
  This infrastructure bill includes much needed investments in a 
cleaner and greener infrastructure. This bill targets investments that 
will improve energy efficiency and resilience and grow local economies 
without passing the burden onto local communities.
  I am pleased that this bill will also directly impact my district by 
dedicating nearly $24 million in critically needed infrastructure 
funds, so that we can invest in the future of our communities. With 
these funds the Birthplace of America Trail can expand in Newport News; 
the City of Chesapeake can begin a pilot program for electric emergency 
response vehicles; Hampton Roads Transit can move forward with the Bus 
Rapid Transit project making traveling around Hampton Roads without a 
car easier; Tidewater Drive, a major arterial road connecting to Naval 
Station Norfolk, can be repaired; and work on the Craney Island Access 
Road, which will help keep up with the increased import/export demands 
at the Port of Virginia, can advance.
  Mr. Speaker, this bill makes necessary investments that will create 
good-paying jobs and resilient infrastructure as we face the rising 
seas and changing climate.

                          ____________________