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“NATIONAL HIGHWAY BRIDGE RECONSTRUCTION AND INSPECTION ACT OF 2008” mentioning the U.S. Dept. of Transportation was published in the Extensions of Remarks section on pages E1551 on July 24, 2008.
The publication is reproduced in full below:
NATIONAL HIGHWAY BRIDGE RECONSTRUCTION AND INSPECTION ACT OF 2008
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speech of
HON. MICHAEL N. CASTLE
of delaware
in the house of representatives
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
The House in Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union had under consideration the bill (H.R. 3999) to amend title 23, United States Code, to improve the safety of Federal-aid highway bridges, to strengthen bridge inspection standards and processes, to increase investment in the reconstruction of structurally deficient bridges on the National Highway System, and for other purposes:
Mr. CASTLE. Madam Chairman, I rise in support of H.R. 3999, the National Highway Bridge Reconstruction and Inspection Act.
In February, I joined experts from the Delaware Department of Transportation for a tour of some of the most heavily traveled roads and bridges in Delaware. I have often heard Delaware referred to as
``The East Coast's Main Street''--and it is true. In fact, during our tour, we visited construction sites where men and women were working diligently on important highway, infrastructure, and bridge projects that are utilized by an estimated 230,000 vehicles every day.
Over the next 50 years, the United States is projected to add 150 million new residents, representing a 50 percent increase over our present population. This population surge will put a greater strain on our transportation system--particularly at key chokepoints in dense areas like the northeast corridor. And last August, the tragic Minneapolis bridge collapse, which killed 13 and injured 145, underscored the serious safety implications of this dramatic increase in highway users when combined with severely aging infrastructure.
Clearly, this situation will continue to deteriorate unless we act soon. For this reason, I support passage of H.R. 3999 and I believe it is vital that we identify and prioritize funding to repair structurally deficient bridges to ensure the safety of all travelers. I also feel strongly that the Federal Government must allow States the appropriate flexibility to allocate these resources as efficiently as possible. I am hopeful that we will make progress in improving these provisions and reducing burdensome spending requirements when this legislation goes to conference with the U.S. Senate.
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