[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 157 (2011), Part 11]
[Senate]
[Page 15824]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                         COMMONSENSE SOLUTIONS

  Mr. JOHANNS. Madam President, there has been a lot of talk about how 
we go about rebuilding the infrastructure after recent disasters and 
how we assist struggling States to accomplish that goal.
  Many in this body do not believe the Federal Government should borrow 
money in an attempt to bail out States. We have our own financial mess 
right here at the Federal level that citizens across this country are 
saying, rightfully so, we have to get solved. But we can all agree that 
one of the best things the Federal Government can do is get out of the 
way and cut through the redtape. We must remove Federal hurdles and 
barriers, so much cumbersome process that constitutes the largest 
barrier to rebuilding our infrastructure.
  In fact, I am very pleased to rise this morning and report there is 
language in the appropriations bill that I believe should get unanimous 
support in this body. It is part of the transportation section.
  It simply says States may rebuild their roads and their bridges that 
have been damaged in disasters without having to repeat environmental 
study after study.
  Gosh, what a commonsense solution.
  Keep in mind, we are talking only about replacing roads and bridges 
that have already been through process, that are already there, that 
were carrying traffic before the disaster. What we are saying is the 
most practical we could possibly say; that is, there is no need to 
repeat the expense of the time-consuming studies. Let's get out there 
and help the States get the work done. In other words, it saves States 
time and money by cutting through redtape and allowing them to, very 
simply, rebuild their roads and bridges.
  I commend the senior Senator from the State of Nebraska, Mr. Nelson, 
for authoring this language. It is a commonsense approach, something we 
are used to in the Midwest, and it doesn't add one dime or one dollar 
to the Federal deficit.
  This language should receive unanimous bipartisan support, especially 
from every Senator whose home State has been hit by disaster. 
Literally, as I speak, our State is trying to figure out how to 
recover.
  Notwithstanding the fact that I think most people would agree this is 
so common sense, my colleague from Washington State, Senator Murray, 
has an amendment that would strike this language. I can't imagine why 
this body would stand in the way of States trying to rebuild their 
roads and bridges. In fact, in addition to States, Senator Nelson's 
language would help counties and communities that are so cash strapped, 
with so limited tax base, saying we will help them too.
  For local authorities, the cost of repeating environmental studies is 
crushing. Even President Obama has called on his administration to drop 
unnecessary regulations and to look for redtape to cut through. Senator 
Murray's amendment, in all due respect, would do exactly the opposite. 
Her amendment would dig our bureaucratic heels into the sand, and it 
would say to States and communities and counties we know they have been 
struggling, we know they have been hit hard by disaster, but we are 
going to keep our expensive hurdles squarely in place. We are going to 
force them to jump over each and every one of them.
  The language authored by my colleague, Senator Nelson, is a 
commonsense way to remove these Federal hurdles. I received assurance 
just this morning from the department of roads in my home State that 
this language would clear the way for several rebuilding projects in 
Nebraska. But we are not alone. I am guessing road departments across 
this country would say the same. There is little doubt in my mind that 
it would do the same for other States that have been faced with 
disasters, from the Midwest to the Northeast. We should rally behind 
Senator Nelson's language and make sure his efforts to clear a pathway 
for recovery are not blocked by the Murray amendment.
  I encourage my colleagues to vote against the Murray amendment, to 
stand with me on the side of cutting redtape preventing States from 
rebuilding roads and bridges.
  I yield the floor.
  The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. The Senator from South Dakota.

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