[Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 132 (Thursday, July 31, 2025)]
[Senate]
[Page S5001]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. PADILLA (for himself and Mr. Cornyn):
  S. 2635. A bill to amend title 23, United States Code, to increase 
flexibility for emergency relief projects, and for other purposes; to 
the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
  Mr. PADILLA. Mr. President, I rise to speak in support of the 
Transportation Emergency Relief Extension Act, which I introduced 
today.
  When disasters strike, entire communities are left to pick up the 
pieces. Families lose their homes, businesses are destroyed, and 
essential infrastructure is severely damaged. In the wake of natural 
disasters like the California wildfires in January or the severe 
flooding that devastated Texas just a month ago, many States turn to 
the Federal Highway Administration's Emergency Relief Program to 
rebuild highways, roads, and bridges.
  This program is essential, but as it currently stands, its 
regulations include rigid deadlines that do not reflect realities on 
the ground. Under current law, the Department of Transportation can 
claw this money back if the state has not initiated the funded projects 
by the end of the second fiscal year following the disaster.
  While this requirement was designed to encourage prompt action, in 
practice it often punishes States for circumstances beyond their 
control, even when they strive to initiate their projects in a timely 
manner.
  These include ongoing supply chain disruptions that have driven up 
the cost of materials and caused long lead times for equipment and 
lengthy regulatory steps such as environmental reviews and other 
permitting challenges. The delays caused by these hurdles are not due 
to the lack of effort by States; they are simply the reality of 
rebuilding critical, large-scale infrastructure.
  While States can request 1-year extensions of these funds, those 
extensions are not guaranteed. Additionally, the lengthy DOT review 
process adds another layer of uncertainty that complicates States' 
efforts to plan and execute long-term recovery projects.
  The bipartisan, bicameral Transportation Emergency Relief Extension 
Act would give States additional time to use the emergency relief funds 
they have been allocated, ensuring they do not lose out on critical 
funding because of factors they cannot control.
  This extension is not about delaying progress: it is about giving 
States the flexibility they need to complete these projects 
responsibly, efficiently, and without the looming threat of losing 
Federal support just as they get underway.
  When a community is struck by disaster, recovery is long and 
challenging. This commonsense legislation will help the Federal 
Government strengthen our role as a partner in that recovery. I want to 
thank Senator Cornyn for coleading this bill with me, and I hope our 
colleagues will join us to ensure that all our communities have the 
support they need to rebuild strong, resilient infrastructure when they 
need it most.
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