Transportation, Housing And Urban Development, And Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2008
Floor Speech
TRANSPORTATION, HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT, AND RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2008 -- (House of Representatives - July 24, 2007)
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Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas. Mr. Chairman, I rise today in support of H.R. 3074, the FY08 Transportation-HUD Appropriations bill.
I want to thank Chairman Obey, Chairman Olver, Ranking Member Knollenberg and the Appropriations Committee for their hard work on this piece of legislation.
This bill contains vital funding for the Houston METRO's North and Southeast New Starts projects. The New Starts project will allow METRO to continue funding implementation of rail and bus rapid transit portions in the North Corridor Project and the Southeast Corridor Projects that are in or service our district.
METRO will use this funding for final design, land acquisition and construction for the North Corridor Project and the Southeast Corridor Projects.
Houston is the Nation's fourth largest city and the region is becoming increasingly congested. We have a critical need for a comprehensive rapid transit system.
The funds that have been allocated for the New Starts Program will improve mobility and transportation options for my constituents and benefit the greater Houston area.
This bill also contains funding for an Economic Development Initiative for the Harris County Community and Economic Department's Community Transit Study.
This funding will allow HUD to study two areas in our district, the Northshore area and city of Galena Park, for transit improvements such as sidewalks, street lights, and transit shelters.
Unfortunately, this bill does not provide funding for several projects that I strongly support.
These projects are: the Harrisburg Grade Crossing, Texas Department of Transportation's Design and Construction of Direct Connectors from Beltway 8 to U.S. 59 North, the city of Baytown's Texas Avenue Streetscape Program, the Brays Bayou Bike/Pedestrian Bridge at Mason Park, the Houston Zoo's Enhanced Zoo Interpretives Project, and the Houston Port Region's Economic Recovery Task Force.
While it is impossible to fund all of the projects that we request, I believe that these programs need Federal funding.
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