Assistance, Quality, and Affordability Act of 2010

Floor Speech

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Ms. SUTTON. I thank the gentleman for the time, and I want to commend Chairman Markey for his amazing leadership on this very important piece of bipartisan legislation and thank Chairman Waxman for all the work that he put forward and for working with me on two important amendments during the committee. I appreciate that effort and that willingness to make this bill just every bit as good as it has been presented to be.

The first amendment that we worked on ensures that when applications for assistance include a plan to mitigate or prevent corrosion, that that application will receive greater weight. Now, why is that important? It's important because corrosion is a serious issue that doesn't receive enough attention until, sadly, it's too late, after a bridge collapses or water or sewer system ruptures.

But by addressing corrosion at the onset of a project, we will extend the life of critical infrastructure, thereby reducing maintenance costs, increasing public safety, and saving taxpayers money.

Now, according to a study to the Federal Highway Administration, the cost of corrosion to drinking water and sewer systems alone support $36 billion a year. So, clearly, anyone interested in efficient cost-effective, deficit-busting government needs to join in the fight to prevent and mitigate the costs of corrosion.

Secondly, and very importantly, this bill also includes a Buy America amendment that will ensure that when U.S. taxpayer dollars are used to build our water and sewer systems, that American-made steel and iron and manufactured goods will be used to do it.

The American people clearly expect that when their taxpayer dollars are used to invest in our Nation's infrastructure, that those tax dollars will be used to create jobs right here at home.

And with this Buy America amendment, we will ensure just that. We will effectively help bolster U.S. manufacturing and good-paying manufacturing jobs for the people I am so honored to represent in northeast Ohio and for those around the country.

Manufacturing jobs have a multiplier effect. Each manufacturing job can generate at least four other jobs in the private sector, and that's why I am very excited about the Make It in America strategy that Democrats are pursuing to strengthen U.S. manufacturing, and this Buy America amendment is a critical component of that Make It in America strategy.

As we invest in our Nation's infrastructure, American taxpayers expect that those tax dollars will be used to create jobs at home, and with this amendment in this bill we are making sure that will happen.

Getting Americans back to work is the highest priority; and with this bill we will not only be providing for safe, stronger, water systems. We are maximizing its job creation impact and doing so in a cost-effective way as we work to prevent the costly effects of corrosion.

Mr. Chairman, I want to thank you again for your work on this excellent bill.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Source