[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 155 (2009), Part 16]
[House]
[Page 21623]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                    REBUILDING AND RENEWING AMERICA

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
Oregon (Mr. Blumenauer) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. BLUMENAUER. Madam Speaker, these times demand that Congress and 
the administration do more than one thing at a time, health care, 
energy, dealing with the economic downturn and near financial meltdown 
inherited by the new administration. One challenge needs more 
attention, rebuilding and renewing America.
  Our fraying infrastructure has been a growing problem for years. The 
American Society of Civil Engineers has rated our overall 
infrastructure with a grade of ``D'' and has done so repeatedly. It is 
one of those rare, important issues that actually unites people rather 
than dividing them.
  Water and transportation investments are overwhelmingly supported by 
the public across the board from coast to coast. And a majority of 
Republicans, Democrats and independents would increase their taxes to 
get this job done.
  Rebuilding and renewing America will make a huge difference in both 
the economy and the everyday quality of life of Americans. The economic 
recovery package that we passed early in the year was an important step 
to stop the economic free fall. I would hate to think what my State of 
Oregon would be facing without the $6 billion for education, health 
care, unemployment and infrastructure. It was very important for the 
State of Oregon and for States across the country, important but not 
enough.
  The perfect next step is to reauthorize and fund the next 
transportation bill, which expires in 15 days. Our Transportation and 
Infrastructure Committee has been hard at work. They have developed a 
great outline for the new legislation.
  But the highway trust fund that would fund that new vision faces a 
significant shortfall. Our recent stopgap efforts to plug the hole just 
adds to the long-term deficit without the certainty that communities 
and contractors require to start needed big projects.
  In the short term, the House should come together, work with the 
Senate and pass a short-term extension of 4 to 6 months that will allow 
us to get the reauthorization and the funding in order.
  In the meantime, every Member ought to take advantage of this 
opportunity to involve people back home in this critical discussion. 
People from the private sector, from their local Chamber, contractors, 
unions, the local community leadership, all being part of this movement 
to rebuild and renew America.
  This is the fastest way to get the economy on track, to improve the 
environment, put people to work and make our communities more liveable, 
our families safer, healthier and more economically secure.

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