[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 136 (Sunday, August 1, 2021)]
[Senate]
[Page S5239]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]





                               H.R. 3684

  Mr. CASSIDY. Mr. President, I join tonight in the celebration of a 
significant next step in the passage of a $550 billion, over 5-year 
infrastructure package, with roads and bridges, highways, sewer 
systems, broadband, flood mitigation, and coastal resiliency.
  If our responsibility as Senators is to listen to the American 
people, this bill is a product of hearing their voices. It is a 
bipartisan package, which does not increase taxes but does meet the 
needs that we have heard of.
  Now, first, let me join others. Senators Portman and Sinema, they 
just did a fantastic job of leading this effort. Our colleagues, both 
those here who are speaking but those who are the chairs and ranking 
members of other committees have really guided us tremendously and 
produced a great work.
  I would also like to acknowledge our House colleagues: Brian 
Fitzpatrick, Josh Gottheimer, the Problem Solvers Caucus, who on their 
side of the Chamber have also seen fit to already endorse our effort. 
And when they did, it was certainly a strong wind of encouragement for 
us.
  But most of all, I thank the American people. The Constitution gives 
Congress the responsibility for infrastructure. Our duty gives us the 
responsibility to listen. If you listen to the American people right 
now, they are concerned about jobs, the economy, safety, and quality of 
life.
  With this bill, we give voice to their concerns. For example, as 
regards safety, there is $110 billion for better highways, bridges, and 
roads. Along the way, by the way, you create quite a number of jobs.
  My State--every State--has been affected by flooding. There is $3.5 
billion for flood mitigation; $500 million to make storm drains bigger, 
so that if there is a tremendous rain event, systems are better able to 
hand this.
  There is money for sewer systems, money for broadband. Many places in 
my State do not have high-speed internet. This addresses it in my State 
and every other.
  Quality of life. There are people in my State who, on a Sunday 
morning, you could drive in 15 minutes to where they are going to work, 
and on a workday, it takes them an hour and a half. That is 3 hours a 
day that they are away from their family, 3 hours a day that they are 
not doing something productive, 3 hours a day of their life which is 
wasted--times the number of days they work in a year. This will improve 
their quality of life.
  And, by the way, did I mention that it will create a lot of jobs 
along the way?
  So whether it is to benefit the economy, to create better paying 
jobs, to make people safer, to improve the quality of life, I feel as 
if we have done it.
  Will Rogers said that elected officials are nothing but the hired 
help. I agree with that. We were sent here to do a job. This 
legislation shows that Congress can still work, can still do its job 
for the American people.
  With that, I yield to my colleague from Utah.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Utah.

                          ____________________