I would like to thank Chairman Latham and Ranking Member Pastor and welcome Secretary Foxx.
First, I want to commend the work of Chairman Latham and Ranking Member Pastor who have both announced that this will be their last Congress. Iowa and Arizona along with this Committee have benefitted greatly from their service. They will be sorely missed.
This is the Secretary’s first hearing before the House Appropriations Committee. I want to personally thank you for the Department’s commitment to building the new Tappan Zee Bridge, and I look forward to continuing to work with you on the project.
With a 25% increase for infrastructure spending compared to the 2014 enacted level, the President’s budget answers the call for rebuilding our aging country’s infrastructure, which the American Society of Civil Engineers grades on average as a “D".
For every billion dollars of infrastructure investment, we create or preserve nearly 35,000 jobs and generate more than $6 billion worth of economic growth. At $18 billion above last year’s bill, this budget would create over 630,000 jobs and generate $108 billion in economic activity.
I am particularly pleased that the budget request includes $825 million to assist with the implementation of positive train control on commuter and passenger rail lines. According to the National Transportation Safety Board, this automated technology would have prevented the devastating Metro-North crash in the Bronx last December, which killed one of my constituents. I hope that the FY’15 THUD bill supports this effort by helping rail lines install this technology in some way.
Mr. Secretary, while we are on the topic of Metro-North, I am also anxiously awaiting the results of your “Deep Dive" into Metro-North’s operations and the Department’s report to this Committee on your findings. I trust that you will have something to the Committee by the March 17th deadline.
The budget also includes $40 million to establish the “Safe Transportation of Energy Products Fund" to support prevention and response activities surrounding the transportation of crude oil. The Lower Hudson Valley has recently had two very close calls with trains that transport crude oil. Thankfully, at the time of the derailments, the oil tankers on the trains were empty.
The Department and industry have taken some good first steps to make crude transport safer, but more must be done to hold responsible those accountable, and safeguard communities like mine in the Lower Hudson River Valley.
Lastly, as you know Mr. Secretary, the Appropriations Committee doesn’t have sole authority to provide the funding increases that you seek. Until Congress and the Administration come together and agree on a pay-for that assures the long-term solvency of the Highway Trust Fund, I fear that we will continue to receive a failing grade for our country’s infrastructure.
The American people are looking at us for leadership. Last year, we stood at the edge of the budgetary brink and were able to pull ourselves back by supporting a compromise. This year, I hope the Administration feels the same sense of urgency for addressing the solvency of the Highway Trust Fund.
Source: U.S. Department of HCA
