OFFICIALS LEGISLATION INTEREST GROUPS PUBLIC STATEMENTS COMMITTEES VETOES

Conference Report on H.R. 22, Surface Transportation Reauthorization and Reform Act of 2015

Floor Speech

Date: Dec. 3, 2015
Location: Washington, DC
Issues: Economy and Fiscal

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Mr. MARINO. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank Chairman Shuster and Ranking Member DeFazio for their work and express my appreciation for the opportunity to serve as a conferee.

There are several significant items in this bill that fall within the jurisdiction of the Committee on the Judiciary.

Chairman Goodlatte and I were also deeply involved in another part of this important bill: efforts to enact meaningful and effective permit streamlining reforms. Enacting legislation to streamline the Federal permitting process has been among my primary goals.

The RAPID Act, my bill to improve and review permitting timelines, has passed this House on three occasions on a bipartisan basis. Our goal has been to fix the flaws in our Federal permitting process that too often doom projects, leaving millions of jobs and hundreds of millions of dollars in economic activity on a bureaucrat's desk.

This year, we worked with our colleagues Senators Portman and McCaskill on this important project. The amendment we offered on the floor during House consideration of this measure represented a carefully crafted compromise that further achieves these goals. It was the product of a bipartisan cooperation, and I am proud that these provisions were included in the conference report we are considering today.

This conference report is an example of the many ways that we can reach across the aisle to find solutions to problems facing us. Our priorities will make lasting reforms that are sure to improve our infrastructure and strengthen our economy. I am glad they will be made law through the enactment of this conference report.

This 5-year bill establishes certainty, stability, confidence, and, most importantly, trust. I am a States' rights guy, and the less Federal Government in my life, the better. Congress has removed obstacles for the States, who know best what is needed for their infrastructure. We must continue to remove impediments for our States to move into the 21st century without job-crushing regulations.

Please support this bill. This bill will improve the quality of life for all Americans.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT


Source
arrow_upward