The Congressional Record is a unique source of public documentation. It started in 1873, documenting nearly all the major and minor policies being discussed and debated.
“RECOGNIZING THE RIBBON CUTTING OF THE NEW SARAH MILDRED LONG BRIDGE” mentioning the U.S. Dept. of Transportation was published in the Extensions of Remarks section on pages E806 on June 8, 2018.
The Department handles nearly all infrastructure crisscrossing the country. Downsizing the Federal Government, a project aimed at lowering taxes and boosting federal efficiency, said the Department should be privatized to save money, reduce congestion and spur innovation.
The publication is reproduced in full below:
RECOGNIZING THE RIBBON CUTTING OF THE NEW SARAH MILDRED LONG BRIDGE
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HON. CHELLIE PINGREE
of maine
in the house of representatives
Friday, June 8, 2018
Ms. PINGREE. Mr. Speaker, as Representative for Maine's 1st Congressional District, I rise to mark a historic occasion in my home state. Today is the official ribbon cutting of the newly built Sarah Mildred Long Bridge.
This span is one of three critical connections between Portsmouth, New Hampshire, and Kittery, Maine. Its predecessor, built in 1940, carried thousands of people between our states every day, bore a rail line used to refuel submarines at the Navy's Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, and lifted to make way for marine traffic on the mighty Piscataqua River.
Retired after 76 years, that structure did these jobs well. But the one dedicated today is designed to do them even better and last an incredible 125 years. It was built by the hardworking men and women of Maine company Cianbro Corp., with the oversight of the Maine Department of Transportation and its counterparts at the New Hampshire Department of Transportation. It should be noted that a $25 million grant from the federal Transportation Infrastructure Generating Economic Recovery program helped bring the costs of this sizeable project within reach.
A time capsule bearing this statement, along with other mementos of 2018, will be buried with instructions to open in 125 years. Until then, may this bridge serve our communities well and bear current and future generations of travelers safely to their destinations.
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