Motion to Go to Conference on H.R. 22, Surface Transportation Reauthorization and Reform Act of 2015

Floor Speech

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Ms. NORTON. I thank the gentleman for yielding.

We will, of course, continue to press for the DRIVE Act funding, the small amount of increased funding in conference. But I do want to thank Chairman Shuster, Ranking Member DeFazio, Subcommittee Chair GRAVES, and all of the Members and staff who contributed to the Surface Transportation Reauthorization and Reform Act that has brought us to this point.

Of course, many of us wanted to invest even more in desperately needed transportation and infrastructure projects. However, we simply can't wait any longer to address the crumbling roads, bridges, and transit systems that Americans depend on every day.

While we will continue to press Congress to make more funding available in future years, I support moving this bill to conference as a means of providing necessary funding and certainty to our States and local partners for the next 6 years.

While this is not a perfect bill--it is a most imperfect bill--it is encouraging that we were able to get together on both sides of the aisle to come together as a model for how we should proceed in the future.

Passage is necessary to shore up the highway trust fund and allow critical projects to move forward around the country. Now, as we move to conference, I will continue to work with Ranking Member DeFazio and our Republican counterparts to see this bill across the finish line.

Our work to ensure robust funding for our roads, bridges, and transit systems is just beginning. This bill is a good bridge to the future, but we must work diligently to identify and secure additional sources of revenue in coming years.

This motion is a first step on the path to higher investment levels. I look forward to working with the Senate to produce a comprehensive bill for the President to sign.

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