[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 158 (2012), Part 2]
[House]
[Page 2952]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




       VOTE ``NO'' ON AMERICAN ENERGY AND INFRASTRUCTURE JOBS ACT

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
Virginia (Mr. Connolly) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. CONNOLLY of Virginia. Madam Speaker, last month, the House 
Republican leadership commemorated Valentine's Day by planning a 
shotgun wedding between transportation reauthorization and the Arctic 
National Wildlife Refuge; between highway funding and Federal pension 
cuts. Many Members of this House spoke for and against this troubling 
bill, but I think it's time Congress started listening to the people.
  Consider what my constituents wrote me when they asked me to oppose 
this transportation disinvestment plan. One concerned citizen in Vienna 
said:

       I'm writing to urge you not to support the proposed 
     American Energy and Infrastructure Jobs Act. This bill is 
     anti-jobs, anti-business, anti-transit, and anti-environment. 
     It slashes funding for transit, guts our Nation's 
     environmental laws, and green-lights a set of controversial 
     and damaging new drilling projects, including in the Arctic 
     National Wildlife Refuge.

  The director of a nonprofit in Dumfries, Virginia, worried about the 
utter lack of transit support in the proposed legislation, wrote:

       I can tell you from firsthand experience that this proposal 
     would have a profoundly negative impact on the ability of our 
     clients to go about their daily lives. Many clients use 
     public transportation to access our services, seek and hold 
     employment, and remain independent. This legislation puts 
     jobs and the services this agency provides to vulnerable 
     populations at risk.

  A constituent from Prince William County bemoaned the dearth of 
transit investments and commented:

       For nearly 30 years, beginning with President Reagan, a 
     portion of Federal motor fuels tax revenues has been 
     dedicated to public transportation investment under Federal 
     law. These revenues are a dependable and predictable source 
     of funding and should remain dedicated to public 
     transportation. The House Ways and Means plan would eliminate 
     this reliable funding source and provides no funding for 
     public transportation after 2016.

  A senior citizen from Springfield, Virginia, worried about the impact 
of this legislation on alternative transportation options, said:

       I strongly encourage you to vote ``no'' on H.R. 7. I am 65 
     years old and have spent the last 10 years of my life 
     utilizing the paths and trails around Fairfax County and this 
     area of the country for safe biking and exercising. Their 
     existence has been critical to my efforts to improve my 
     personal health. These trails cost so little compared to 
     building highways and using automobiles and have tremendous 
     benefits to all of us. Please do not allow this bill to halt 
     the great progress that this country has made in its trails. 
     Please vote ``no'' on H.R. 7.

                              {time}  1050

  A constituent from Gainesville, Prince William County, Virginia, 
where they have one of the longest daily commutes in America:

       I am writing in opposition to the proposal to pay for any 
     of H.R. 7 through cuts to Federal workers' pay and benefits. 
     I urge you to vote against any plan that unfairly targets 
     Federal workers and retirees to pay more for their fair 
     share. Our nation's Federal workers are already doing their 
     part to address America's deficit problem, which they did not 
     cause. Their pay freeze will have contributed over $60 
     billion to debt reduction.

  A constituent from Fairfax echoed those concerns:

       Congressman Connolly, I am contacting you about H.R. 7. I'm 
     disgusted and appalled that those in public service are being 
     targeted yet again to fix Federal budget shortfalls they 
     didn't cause. As a Federal employee, I'm acutely aware of the 
     shared sacrifices Federal employees have made in these 
     turbulent times. I appreciate your support and representation 
     in defeating this bill.

  Madam Speaker, my constituents make a compelling case. Americans are 
looking for a long-term solution to transportation. Like any successful 
relationship, this one must be balanced, with sustained investment in 
highways, transit, and non-motorized transportation. We can't slash 
funding in 45 of the 50 States, including my home State of Virginia, 
while eliminating all dedicated funding for transit and hope to solve 
our transportation problems.
  I urge my Republican colleagues, junk this bill. Let's start over 
again and work in a bipartisan fashion for transportation in America 
for the benefit of all of our citizens.

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