Date: 2007-07-24
Speaker: GENE GREEN (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Mr. Chairman. I rise today in support of H.R. 3074. the FY08 TransportationHUD Appropriations bill. I want to thank Chairman OBEY. Chairman OLVER. Ranking Member KNOLLENBERG and the Appropriations Committee for their hard work on this piece of legislation. This bill contains vital funding for the Houston METROs North and Southeast New Starts projects. The New Starts project will allow METRO to continue funding implementation of rail and bus rapid transit portions in the North Corridor Project and the Southeast Corridor Projects that are in or service our district. METRO will use this funding for final design. land acquisition and construction for the North Corridor Project and the Southeast Corridor Projects. Houston is the Nations fourth largest city and the region is becoming increasingly congested. We have a critical need for a comprehensive rapid transit system. The funds that have been allocated for the New Starts Program will improve mobility and transportation options for my constituents and benefit the greater Houston area. This bill also contains funding for an Economic Development Initiative for the Harris County Community and Economic Departments Community Transit Study. This funding will allow HUD to study two areas in ourdistrict. the Northshore area and city of Galena Park. for transit improvements such as sidewalks. street lights. and transit shelters. Unfortunately. this bill ddes not provide funding for several projects that I strongly support. These projects are: the Harrisburg Grade Crossing. Texas Department of Transportations Design and Construction of Direct Connectors from Beltway 8 to U.S. 59 North. the city of Baytowns Texas Avenue The report contains $150.00 for the Historic Wilson Theater Restoration Project in Rupert. Idaho. The Wilson Theater was built in 1920 and is on the National Register of Historic Places. The Theater is also part of Ruperts Historic Business District. Rupert is a predominandy rural community that recently experienced the closure of its largest employer. Kraft Cheese. The restoration of this theater is one aspect of the communitys effort to revitalize itself. attract new employers and generate interest in the community. The community thus far has raised over $1 million in private donations to restore the building. and federal funds will be only asmall part of overall expenses. This project was requested by the nonprofit Renaissance Art Center. Inc. in Rupert. Idaho. The report contains $50.000 for the Custer County Economic Development Initiative in Custer County. Idaho. The vast size of Custer County presents enormous financial challenges for a county that is -overwhelmingly owned by the federal government. Custer County has a very small tax base with very large costs for maintaining roads and service over a very large area. This funding will permit the county to purchase and renovate an old middle school in Challis that would become a government and business center housing the offices of the City. County. and Economic Development offices and making them ADA compliant. Additionally. funding would help to provide for improvements to a multigovernment complex in the City of Stanley and the rodeo grounds in* the City of Mackay. This project would relieve an enormous strain on the limited yearly budget of Custer County and allow it to more efficiently deliver services to residents and visitors alike. This project was requested by Custer County. Idaho. I appreciate the opportunity to provide a list of Congressionally directed projects in my region and an explanation of my support for them: 1.) $150.000 for Historic Wilson Theater Restoration Project. Rupert. Idaho. 2.) $50.000 for Custer County Economic Development Initiative. Custer County. Idaho. 3.) $900.000 for City of Rocks Back Country Byway. Idaho. 4.) $500.000 for Idaho Transit Coalition buses and bus facilities. and 5.) $300.000 for 1--84. Curtis Road to Broadway IC Widening. Boise. Idaho.