[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 161 (2015), Part 4]
[House]
[Page 4872]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




 TIME TO ADDRESS THE CRITICAL FUNDING SHORTFALL FOR OUR TRANSPORTATION 
                                 NEEDS

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
Oregon (Mr. Blumenauer) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. BLUMENAUER. Mr. Speaker, this week on Capitol Hill, there are 
hundreds and hundreds of people from around the country who are 
delivering a message: that America is falling apart and is falling 
behind, and it is time for us to address the critical funding shortfall 
for our transportation needs.
  They could not have picked a better time to come to Capitol Hill. The 
10-month extension of the surface transportation legislation is set to 
expire in 6 weeks. It is the latest in a series of 23 short-term 
extensions. No nation ever became great planning its infrastructure 9 
months at a time.
  The Republican budget--passed last month--again proposes to cut 
transportation spending, which is already inadequate, 30 percent over 
the next 10 years despite hearing from local governments, business, 
labor that the Federal Government should be larger in its contribution, 
not smaller.

                              {time}  1030

  The unwillingness to face reality got us to where we are today, 
falling apart, falling behind. The country that used to have the finest 
infrastructure in the world was recently rated 17th, and we are falling 
further behind.
  The gas tax hasn't been increased since 1993, and it has lost nearly 
40 percent of its purchasing power. We can't pay for transportation in 
2015 with 1993 dollars, but it is interesting that action has taken 
place on a number of different levels. Over a dozen Senators have been 
talking about raising the gas tax. Some of my Republican colleagues in 
the House have agreed that raising the gas tax is the right thing to 
do.
  When I introduced House Resolution 680 in February that would phase 
in a 3-year, 15-cent gas tax increase, I was joined by the U.S. Chamber 
of Commerce, the AFL-CIO, truckers, AAA, transit, local government, 
contractors, and bicyclists--it is the broadest coalition you will see 
on any major issue--all saying to Congress, Stand up and do the right 
thing. A gas tax increase is the only solution that is dedicated, 
sustainable for the long term, and big enough to do the job.
  Mr. Speaker, it is interesting that, while Congress continues to 
dither, people at the State level are taking action in anticipation 
that the Federal partnership will be there. Two years ago, I was told 
it was impractical; it would never fly politically.
  Well, what we have seen in the last 2 years, that 13 States--
including 7 Republican States--have raised the gas tax. Of the State 
legislators that voted to increase the gas tax, 98 percent of them were 
reelected--I would note, a better percentage than the Senate Democrats 
running for reelection in the last election.
  With the support of Congress, this broad coalition, we can actually 
step up, revitalize the economy. We can strengthen communities. We can 
put hundreds of thousands of Americans to work at family wage jobs in 
every State in the Union.
  Mr. Speaker, in 1982, Ronald Reagan gave his Thanksgiving Day 
address, where he pointed out that the gas tax hadn't been raised in 
over 20 years. He pointed out needs for critical maintenance and 
construction. He pointed out that raising the gas tax would create 
hundreds of thousands of family wage jobs. Ronald Reagan called on 
Congress to come back and more than double the gas tax. Ronald Reagan 
and Speaker Tip O'Neill and Congress did just that, and America was the 
better for it.
  There is no reason that this Congress cannot demonstrate the 
foresight and courage of President Reagan and the Congress over 30 
years ago and show the fortitude that has been shown in States around 
the country who are betting that we are going to be there working with 
them.
  I sincerely hope that my colleagues listen to the hundreds of men and 
women on Capitol Hill telling this story from the perspective of 
unions, local government, and business. The needs are there. Congress 
needs to act. The public deserves no less.

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