[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 155 (2009), Part 13]
[House]
[Page 18041]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                 SURFACE TRANSPORTATION REAUTHORIZATION

  (Mr. SIRES asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute.)
  Mr. SIRES. Madam Speaker, currently, highway connections are 
worsening, ports are clogged, rail lines are plagued with choke points, 
and our communities are suffering with increased congestion, ever-
worsening air pollution, and a struggling economy. We must act now to 
address these critical infrastructure issues and bring aid to our 
communities.
  Our communities are struggling right now, not only with an 
inefficient and underperforming transportation system, but also with 
high unemployment rates and a sluggish economy.
  The Surface Transportation Authorization Act produced by Chairman 
Oberstar is a bold step forward on transportation policy that will 
address our aging infrastructure and create or sustain 6 million 
family-wage jobs.
  We need to continue the work we did with the Recovery Act and move 
forward with this legislation now to boost the economy, aid our 
communities, and transform our transportation system.

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