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.
“INTRODUCTION OF THE BUILD AMERICA ACT OF 2018” mentioning the U.S. Dept. of Transportation was published in the Extensions of Remarks section on pages E8-E9 on Jan. 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:
INTRODUCTION OF THE BUILD AMERICA ACT OF 2018
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HON. ALCEE L. HASTINGS
of florida
in the house of representatives
Monday, January 8, 2018
Mr. HASTINGS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to introduce the Build America Act of 2018, legislation that will significantly increase the size and scope of two very successful merit-based infrastructure grant programs without adding a penny to the national debt. Specifically, this legislation would remove the Capital Investment Grant Program
(CIG), also known as New Starts/Small Starts, and the Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery Grant Program (TIGER Grants) from the annual appropriations process, establishing them as mandatory programs with permanent and expanded funding. My bill proposes to increase TIGER funding to $3 billion annually, and to increase CIG funding to $9 billion.
These grants have helped local communities prioritize their own projects; however they have been chronically underfunded in the past. For instance, since 2009, Congress has dedicated nearly $5.1 billion for eight rounds of TIGER funding, yet the program received $10.1 billion in applications in FY2015 alone. The process is competitive, and allows the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) to reward applicants that exceed eligibility criteria and demonstrate significant non-Federal funding commitments.
By increasing these funding levels and removing the programs from the annual appropriations process, we will take the guesswork and uncertainty out of the programs. This in turn will allow communities around the country to submit funding requests for merit-based awards for projects of national, regional, or metropolitan-area significance. The projects include construction and repair of roads, bridges, and tunnels, the installation of high speed internet, revitalization of drinking water, and the construction and expansion of fixed-guideway public transportation systems, including subways, light rail, commuter rail, and bus rapid transit (BRT).
Mr Speaker, we have talked about prioritizing a large-scale infrastructure package for years. Congressional Democrats recently unveiled a trillion-dollar plan to make these investments and create tens of thousands of jobs. However, like so many other proposals, it was rejected out of hand by the Majority. Despite controlling the House, the Senate, and the White House, the Majority has not yet offered any plan of their own. All the while, the situation continues to grow worse.
Every four years, the American Society of Civil Engineers' issues a
``Report Card'' for America's Infrastructure. The report depicts the condition and performance of American infrastructure, assigning letter grades based on the physical condition and needed investments for improvement across 16 major infrastructure categories. The most recent report card was issued last year. Among the national rankings, transit systems were rated a D- and roads were rated a D.
Dams: D.
Drinking water: D.
Inland waterways: D.
Levees: D.
We need to move this process forward. I am therefore proud to offer my own legislation today--not for a massive, all-encompassing infrastructure package--but rather, for a common sense expansion of successful programs based on need and merit. I urge my colleagues to consider it without delay, so that our country can begin making the investments it desperately needs.
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