[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 30 (Tuesday, February 15, 2022)]
[Senate]
[Page S708]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. PADILLA (for himself, Mr. Warnock, Mr. Blumenthal, Mr. 
        Booker, Mr. Carper, Mr. Casey, Ms. Duckworth, Mrs. Feinstein, 
        Mr. Heinrich, Mr. Markey, Mr. Merkley, Mr. Peters, Mr. Reed, 
        Mr. Sanders, Ms. Smith, Mr. Van Hollen, and Mr. Wyden):
  S. 3649. A bill to establish an advisory committee to provide 
independent advice and recommendations to the Secretary of 
Transportation regarding comprehensive, interdisciplinary issues 
relating to transportation from a variety of stakeholders in 
transportation planning, design, research, policy, and advocacy, and 
for other purposes; to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
Transportation.
  Mr. PADILLA. Mr. President, I rise to speak in support of the 
Transportation Equity Act, which I introduced today.
  As our Nation is making historic investments in our transportation 
infrastructure through the bipartisan intrastructure law, equity should 
be at the forefront of the Federal Government's plans to revitalize 
communities and ensure access, mobility, and opportunity for all.
  One of President Biden's first actions in office was signing an 
Executive order on advancing racial equity and support for underserved 
communities through the Federal Government, which states, ``Our Nation 
deserves an ambitious whole-of-government equity agenda that matches 
the scale of the opportunities and challenges that we face.''
  To accomplish this bold agenda, we need the interaction and 
involvement of diverse groups of stakeholders to ensure communities are 
heard and create effective policies.
  Fortunately, we have a model for how we can bring such groups 
together to infuse equity into our transportation and infrastructure 
investments. In 2016, the U.S. Department of Transportation established 
the Advisory Committee on Transportation Equity to provide advice and 
recommendations on comprehensive, interdisciplinary issues related to 
transportation equity from a variety of stakeholders involved in 
transportation planning, design, research, policy, and advocacy.
  That is why I am proud to introduce this bill with Senator Warnock to 
permanently reestablish the Advisory Committee on Transportation Equity 
within the U.S. Department of Transportation.
  This bill would help recognize the role that transportation plays on 
related issues like public health, housing, accessibility, 
environmental justice, economic opportunity, and more.
  I want to thank Senator Warnock for coleading this bill with me, and 
I hope our colleagues will join us in support of this bill to help 
redress inequities in transportation infrastructure and empower 
communities to build back better.
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