[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 157 (2011), Part 7]
[House]
[Page 9614]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




    PROPOSED LEGISLATION TO SAVE $50 MILLION FOR TENNESSEE TAXPAYERS

  (Mr. FLEISCHMANN asked and was given permission to address the House 
for 1 minute.)
  Mr. FLEISCHMANN. Mr. Speaker, today I will introduce my first piece 
of legislation since taking office, and I am proud that it saves the 
taxpayers of my home State of Tennessee an estimated $50 million.
  The unfunded mandate put in place by the new standards of the Federal 
Highway Administration is an undue burden on States when they can least 
afford it. That is why I am joining Congressman DesJarlais and Senators 
Alexander and Corker to allow local governments to meet these new 
standards at the end of a road sign's natural lifecycle, and not on the 
accelerated timetable put forth by the Federal Highway Administration.
  While this administration and their departments might have the 
mindset of tax, borrow, and spend, local governments cannot do the 
same. At a time when we are working to be fiscally responsible and 
balance our budgets, the Federal Government is telling them to spend 
money they don't have.
  Washington politicians should take a clue from their local and State 
officials and get to work on balancing the budget instead of telling 
States how to spend their money.

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