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.
“TRANSPORTATION NEEDS” mentioning the U.S. Dept. of Transportation was published in the House of Representatives section on pages H2151-H2152 on March 5, 2014.
The publication is reproduced in full below:
TRANSPORTATION NEEDS
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Oregon (Mr. Blumenauer) for 5 minutes.
Mr. BLUMENAUER. Mr. Speaker, this is the March Madness season on Capitol Hill, when we in Congress greet thousands of our constituents, many who are here to talk about transportation. It is something that every one of our constituents cares about.
Yesterday, I was able to greet hundreds of cyclists from around the country, and then leaders of America's counties; already this morning I've visited with people from the preservation community and a large delegation from Oregon.
Next week, I will start all over again with the American Public Transit Association. These people are all desperate for a 6-year, fully funded transportation bill, with stable, non-general funded money. They are standing on the edge of a cliff due to Congress' refusal--I almost said inability--to provide necessary funds, if not to do it right, at least to do it adequately.
I came to Congress shortly after the Clinton administration and Congress last raised the gas tax. That was 21 years ago, when gasoline was $1.08 a gallon--and I wonder if Barack had even met Michelle--and there it has remained for 21 years.
Due to inflation and fuel economy increases, the average cost per mile that the American motorist pays to the Federal transportation program has been cut in half.
I went on the Budget, and the Ways and Means Committees for the last 8 years in order to deal with this issue. Frankly, I am tired of waiting. I introduced a gas tax increase, phased in over 3 years, to fully fund a 6-year reauthorization. I was pleased to be joined by friends supporting my bill's introduction--by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the AFL-CIO, American Trucking Association, AAA, contractors, transit, local government, environmentalists, road builders.
I find it somewhat ironic that people say this will be a heavy lift, because there is little support for it. When Chairman Camp offered $150 billion last week in his tax reform bill or President Obama suggested
$300 billion, where was their broad base of support? Maybe that is why both proposals were declared dead on arrival in the newspapers the next day.
I had a chance to make my case for both short and long-term funding last week in an amazing conference on America's infrastructure challenges at Harvard Business School. After my presentation, I was followed by the president of the AFL-CIO, Rich Trumka, and the president of the U.S. Chamber, Tom Donohue, who said--you know, they don't agree on much--but they both agree that it is time to raise the gas tax.
One of the best examples of leadership was Bill Graves, the president of the American Trucking Association, who has been eloquent and forceful, including when he was Governor of Kansas and raised the gas tax, saying his industry wants their taxes raised.
The AAA issued a strong statement in support, even though their members are not wild about it, because it is needed.
We run out of money September 30 because we have drained the trust fund. Therefore, the United States Department of Transportation is going to stop shipping out money this summer, which means that we are going to start having local governments holding back on their contracts this spring.
While the truckers and AAA have taken a strong leadership stand--not because it is popular, but because it is needed--I hope we in Congress will stop stalling or dealing with short-term fixes. Let's take a stand to raise the gas tax, have an adult conversation with the American public about how to pay for rebuilding and renewing our communities, put hundreds of thousands of people to work, to improve the safety and morning commute for all Americans.
____________________
