Conference Report on H.R. 4348, Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act

Floor Speech

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Ms. JACKSON LEE of Texas. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 4348 the ``Surface Transportation Conference Agreement.'' More than 100 days ago, the Senate passed a bipartisan, job-creating transportation bill to rebuild America--that is similar to the bill we are taking up today.

This bill will create or save more than 2 million jobs, authorize highway and transit programs for more than two years at current levels, make key reforms consolidating transportation programs, and leverage federal resources to expand public-private partnerships in transportation.

However, regarding the education of our Nation in making college more affordable has always been a top priority of Democrats. In 2007, the Democratic-led Congress enacted legislation that cut the interest rate on need-based student loans in half--to 3.4 percent--over five years.

Unfortunately, under current law, that reduced rate expires and doubles to 6.8 percent on July 1.

This Congress cannot sit by and let students suffer and be denied a chance at making a better future and a brighter tomorrow because we failed to act. I am determined to see that students have a chance to learn, to aspire, and to dream.

If we don't pass this bill with common-sense pay-fors, we are setting up a roadblock to dreamers, in essence telling them that education can be foreclosed on because we did not do our jobs.

If the current rates expire the average student faces an increase of $1,000 each. In doing nothing, House Republicans are, putting more barriers in the way of millions of Americans already struggling to pay for a higher education. It is time for Republicans in Congress to stop playing politics with students' futures and come to the negotiating table.

Minority and Women Contractors. Regarding set-asides to ensure that minority, women and other disadvantaged businesses are able to compete for transit and highway contracts, the conference report continues the program and includes key findings regarding discrimination in transportation contracts to ensure that these important provisions are upheld if ever challenged. These provisions are not expanded to rail, which is not authorized in the bill.

Although I am disappointed the bill does not include rail, it is important that as we move forward, transportation contracts, whether it be for airlines, bus, rail, or even little red wagons, women and minorities are able to compete on equal footing with the old boy's network.

I have supported this reauthorization at least 16 times since 2008. The National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) has been invaluable for victims and potential victims of flooding in Texas.

Congress must extend authority for the NFIP to write or renew flood insurance policies, which are required in order to obtain a mortgage in the 100-year floodplain. This is an issue of importance to not just the coastal states but in nearly every state.

Just a month ago the Houston Association of Realtors was in town and came to advocate for a reauthorization but as a practical matter would prefer--like many Members of Congress

on both sides of the aisle--a long-term, 5-year reauthorization for this important measure.

The National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) was established in 1968 in response to increasing federal government spending for disaster relief. Standard homeowners insurance does not cover flooding and therefore offers no protection from floods associated with hurricanes, tropical storms, heavy rains and other conditions. The NFIP mandates that federally regulated or insured lenders require flood insurance on properties that are located in areas that have a high risk of flooding.

As Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Transportation Security and Infrastructure Protection of the Committee on Homeland Security, I understand as well as anyone that supporting and securing our Nation's transportation systems are critical to ensuring the free movement of people and commercial goods. But I also know that, in the strained economic circumstances that we currently face, it is equally imperative that we allocate limited resources in a way that maximizes their capacity to improve the lives of as many Americans as possible.

I am pleased that the Conference Agreement measure includes provisions to strengthen highway and motor carrier safety programs. The legislation consolidates National Highway Traffic Safety Administration incentive grant programs, and increases funding flexibility for states that qualify for safety incentive grants. The measure also improves motor carrier safety in a balanced manner.

As the Representative of 18th Congressional District of Houston, Texas, I am keenly aware of our transportation needs. Houston needs infrastructure to relieve congestion and provide adequate public transportation, but it also needs this because an investment in Houston's New Start Transit Project means jobs for Houston's constituents through the transportation sector in its communities and around the Nation.

However, I must balance the needs of my constituents. This funding is critical for funding existing and pending surface transportation and infrastructure projects while we pursue longer term solutions in the face of a misplaced focus on spending cuts. We must work together to forge a bipartisan long-term solution to our Nation's transportation and infrastructure needs.

Economic experts universally agree that funding the critical and necessary infrastructure projects nationwide creates jobs for America and increases our level of global competitiveness. There is an intense competition between fiscal responsibility and investment in job growth & infrastructure.

We must make investments in job creating infrastructure projects in order to grow the US economy. We must be winners in contest for economic change now and for our children's future. We cannot be the losers. We must catch the wave of economic growth or be crushed by it. China, India and Europe understand this because they have committed to greater investments in their infrastructure.

As I think of my home District, the 18th Congressional District in Houston, Texas and its busy ports, much like the other ports around this great nation, I am compelled to urge my colleagues to consider the pressing national necessity of decongesting the surface transportation, both rail and highway, that moves the goods in and out of those ports.

We must improve this surface transportation system in order to accommodate national economic health, global competitiveness, and to avoid harm to agriculture industry, maritime jobs and manufacturing jobs. Maritime jobs and construction jobs for infrastructure provide a good middle class wage, allow workers to get educations at night, and lower crime rates in our cities.

We must invest in High Speed Rail. We have about 500 miles of high speed rail in process, but China has about 10,000 miles being built! We need to have a domestic talent pool with the required knowledge, skills and trained workers to do projects like high speed rail or we will be paying for skilled Chinese companies to do it for us.

Infrastructure Investment is a Non-Partisan Issue: If the AFL-CIO and U.S. Chamber of Commerce have teamed up to promote infrastructure investment, then surely the Democrats and Republicans in this Congress can do the same. Moreover, now is the time for us to consider the creation of a long overdue National Infrastructure Bank and Public-Private partnerships to shift our infrastructure improvement into full gear. We should not shy away from this issue when a nation is waiting for us to do our part to restore our economy through fortification of our infrastructure. It is time for another large, bold, national forward thinking infrastructure project like interstate highway system.

Governors and Mayors at ground level around this nation will quickly confirm that Infrastructure investments create jobs, help balance budgets, and grow both state and national economies. We must listen to our local elected officials who must fix the potholes, repair the crumbling bridges and tunnels or be held directly accountable by their constituents on every street corner. Our local elected officials will quickly tell us that infrastructure investment creates jobs, because it attracts business!

The American Association of Civil Engineers (ASCE) gives U.S. Infrastructure the Grade of ``D'' in its 2009 Report Card. Infrastructure Investment equals Jobs! But, the U.S. is falling behind its competitors in infrastructure development (especially China, India & Europe). The bottom line is that Transportation and Infrastructure Investment is needed for a Strong Economy.

So, I say to my colleagues that we weight this measure carefully. A delay in enactment of this Conference Agreement will shut down more than $800 million next month in highway reimbursements and transit grants to States and urban areas, endangering more than 28,000 jobs and multi-million dollar construction projects across the country.

As Ranking Member of the Transportation Security Subcommittee at the House Committee on Homeland Security, I have continuously supported the increase in adequate resources aimed at enhancing the efficiency, safety and security of our rail and mass transit systems.

This Congress, I introduced the ``Surface Transportation and Mass Transit Security Act of 2011'' which seeks to authorize adequate resources and program attention to surface and mass transit security programs at the Transportation Security Administration.

To this end, the bill authorizes additional surface inspectors needed to validate security programs impacting our surface and mass transit security. The bill also creates mechanisms to strengthen stakeholder outreach, makes key revisions to the public transportation security assistance grants program and increases canine teams and resources for surface and mass transit modes.

I must say that I am pleased today that our colleagues have come together in a bipartisan and bicameral manner to create a Conference Agreement that will put Americans back to work.

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