[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 207 (Wednesday, December 1, 2021)]
[House]
[Pages H6716-H6717]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 DETERIORATING INFRASTRUCTURE IN TEXAS

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from 
Texas (Ms. Garcia) for 5 minutes.
  Ms. GARCIA of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to call attention to a 
mounting problem which is affecting every Texan: our deteriorating 
infrastructure.
  Now, I know a thing about infrastructure. When I was a county 
commissioner, I saw firsthand how a lack of investment directly 
impacted people in my area. As a State, we regularly have received 
scores of C and D on our infrastructure. In my own area, it was even 
worse because of the damage that hurricanes and flooding did on a 
regular basis.
  These deteriorating roads and bridges cost Texans over $700 a year in 
damages and extra vehicle maintenance. That is an entire paycheck for 
many of the people in my district. On top of that, Houstonians have had 
to deal with the twin trouble of decaying roads and rapid growth.
  Harris County is now home to over 700,000 more people than it had in 
2010. Without significant investment, we are trying to fit more and 
more people onto the same deteriorating roads.
  Mr. Speaker, the traffic is so bad in parts of my city that I and 
many other Houstonians simply avoid entire neighborhoods altogether. 
This directly hurts small business owners who depend on infrastructure 
for people to reach their stores.
  Mr. Speaker, poor infrastructure does more than hurt families' 
pocketbooks, it has already cost us lives. Everyone in Texas remembers 
the winter storm this past February that left millions freezing in 
their homes without power.
  The extreme cold weather brought State power systems to the brink of 
collapse. Over 200 Texans died in this storm, many of them seniors, 
from cold weather exposure. It didn't have to be this way. The State 
government had the choice the last time this kind of storm happened in 
2011 to take the advice of Federal regulators and prepare our power 
grid for winter emergencies. Instead, the State has done nothing and 
will have to bear the cost.
  Many Houstonians will also remember Hurricane Ike, Hurricane Rita, 
and Hurricane Harvey, it comes one after another. Every year, another 
``storm of the century.''

                              {time}  1015

  These storms have caused hundreds of deaths, billions in damages, and 
displaced thousands from their homes in Houston. Mr. Speaker, I could 
go on and on, but the point is clear: my district is facing a clear and 
present danger from the failure to invest in reliable infrastructure.
  During the previous administration, we heard promise after promise 
from Republicans. They were going to address this with the so-called 
infrastructure weeks. I can't even remember how many of those we had, 
but it certainly stretched for 4 years. Promises made, promises broken.
  But I am proud that today I can go back to my district and say that 
these critical investments are finally--finally--on their way. Thanks 
to President Biden's commitment to working with Congress to get this 
done, Texas will receive $35 billion to rebuild our infrastructure.

[[Page H6717]]

  For all the problems I have spoken about, the Infrastructure 
Investment and Jobs Act has a solution. This law will invest over $26 
billion in funding for better roads and bridges built to last and to 
handle future growth. It will also invest $3.3 billion to improve 
public transit options that reduce congestion and improve 
transportation for everyone. Texans will also benefit from a $3.5 
billion program in this law that will protect power systems from 
weather emergencies like the winter storm.
  But this law doesn't just solve today's problems. It is also about 
preparing us for tomorrow's opportunities.
  The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act will deliver reliable 
internet access to rural Texas communities by investing over $100 
million in expanding coverage. This will allow rural Texans to finally 
access jobs and commerce that were previously locked away.
  This bill will also prepare Texas for electric vehicles of the future 
by investing nearly half a billion dollars to build our charging 
station network.
  Mr. Speaker, Texas is facing serious infrastructure problems. But 
this law is the solution. I am proud that this money will soon flow 
directly to communities in my State and improve lives.
  Thanks to the leadership of President Biden, Speaker Pelosi, Leader 
Schumer, and some of our friends across the aisle, this bipartisan 
infrastructure bill will send help, and it is on the way.

                          ____________________