[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 158 (2012), Part 2]
[House]
[Page 1610]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




    WORST TRANSPORTATION AUTHORIZATION BILL IN OUR NATION'S HISTORY

  (Mr. MORAN asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. MORAN. Madam Speaker, the House leadership is still scrambling to 
find the votes to pass what everyone is coming to recognize as the 
worst transportation authorization bill in this Nation's history. But 
with gasoline prices approaching $4 a gallon, House Republicans are 
falling back on their wrongheaded 2008 campaign slogan of ``Drill, 
Baby, Drill.''
  It's a cynical ploy, and assumes Americans think that the pain of 
high gasoline prices is justifiable grounds to open restricted areas 
for drilling and weaken protections that would ensure offshore drilling 
is done in a safe and environmentally responsible manner.
  The cold reality, however, is that this bill will not bring relief to 
Americans suffering at the gasoline pump, and prosperous fishing and 
tourism industries--real job creators--based in Bristol Bay, southern 
California, the west coast of Florida, and Virginia will needlessly be 
placed at risk.
  And for what? Approximately $1.8 billion in new Federal revenue over 
10 years. Not nearly enough to fund public transit or any other 
meaningful part of a transportation infrastructure bill.
  And the revenue generated by drilling off Virginia's coast: $40 
million over 10 years. Our Governor says that's what's going to pay for 
his transportation plan. It pays for nothing. Billions in economic 
activity and tens of thousands of jobs would be put at risk for very 
little in benefits.

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