Motion to Go to Conference on H.R. 22, Surface Transportation Reauthorization and Reform Act of 2015
Floor Speech
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Mr. SHUSTER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to the motion to instruct. The STRR Act act is a bipartisan bill that reflects the input of Members from both sides of the aisle. It has been a carefully crafted compromise. This motion would threaten that compromise and dismantle the bipartisan House position as we head into negotiations with the Senate.
The STRR Act is a multiyear bill that provides needed certainty for States and local governments. It helps improve our Nation's transportation infrastructure and maintains a strong commitment to safety, but it also provides important reforms that help us continue to do the job more effectively.
Key provisions in this bill will refocus our transportation programs on national priorities, promote innovation to make our surface transportation system programs work better, provide greater flexibility for State and local governments to address their needs, streamline the Federal bureaucracy, accelerate the project approval process, and facilitate the flow of freight and commerce.
The STRR Act continues the Federal role in providing a strong national transportation system, which enables our country to remain economically competitive and helps ensure our quality of life.
This bill has widespread support. We have received nearly 300 letters of support from throughout the stakeholder community, so I would urge all Members to oppose the gentleman's motion.
I reserve the balance of my time.
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Mr. SHUSTER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Again, I want to thank all the Members that have worked on this bill. I know that the two Members on the floor here are valued members of the committee.
Again, I oppose the instruction because I believe it really--we have got a delicate balance here; and a strong position moving into the Senate to get this over the goal line and get ourselves a long-term, multiyear highway transportation bill is just something that I think we all want. It is all good for the country.
The gentleman brings up some good points on the funding of it. As soon as we get this bill passed, on the President's desk and signed, we have really got to sit down with the stakeholder community and Members on both sides of the aisle, both sides of the Capitol, people around the States, and figure out a way to move forward in the future to have a fully funded, robust transportation highway trust fund.
So again, I appreciate what the gentleman is saying, but, again, at this point, I urge opposition to this motion to instruct.
I yield back the balance of my time.
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