Date: 2015-06-09
Speaker: JACKSON LEE (democrat)
Chamber: H

Just to emphasize. finally. whether it is seaways. dams. highways. or tollways. whether it involves other modes of transportation. transportation projects are major engines driving the economy. That is why we are here on the floor. It is important for the local communities to be drivers of that. The metropolitan regions will not be able to maintain economic vitality without this investment. Finally. the Jackson Lee amendment clearly speaks to the global aspects of the Secretary of Transportation having the ability to work with our local and State governments. I ask my colleagues to join me in restating that the Secretary of Transportation has authority to work with local and State entities on the proposed projects that they have and for these projects to continue to grow and develop to ease traffic congestion. Madam Chair. Let me thank Subcommittee Chairman DIAzBALART and Ranking Member PRICE for their leadership on this important legislation and for the opportunity to explain my amendment. The Jackson Lee Amendment adds at the end of the bill the following new section providing that: SEC. . None of the funds made available by this Act under the heading " Federal Transit Administration Transit Formula Grants" may be used in contravention of section 5309 of title 49. United States Code. This amendment is identical to the Jackson Lee Amendment to H.R. 4775. the Transportation. Housing and Urban Development Appropriations Act for FY2015 adopted by the House last year by voice vote. In particular. the Jackson Lee affirms the importance to the nation of projects that create economic development. particularly in the transportation area. Pursuant to section 5309 of title 49. the Secretary of Transportation may make grants under this section to State and local government the authority to assist in financing capital projects. small startup projects. including the acquisition of real property. This section further supports capacity improvements. including double tracking. and it specifically relates to work that deals with projects on approved transportation plans. That is key. section 5309 of title 49 grants to State and local governments the authority to undertake capital projects. which means that when local governments propose their projects. the Secretary has the authority to go forward on them. Its instructive to consider what some of the nations leading transportation and economic development organizations have to say about the importance and economic impact of investments in local light rail capital projects. It is well documented that nothing enhances the competitiveness of a nation in this increasingly globalized economy. than investments in transportation infrastructure capital projects. Whether it is the seaways. dams. highways. or tollways. and whether it involves other modes of transportation. transportation projects are major engines driving the economy. And it is important for the local community to be the drivers of that. Metropolitan regions will not be able to maintain its economic vitality without the ability to create and preserve infrastructure that supports the movement of people and goods throughout our country. The Jackson Lee Amendment clearly speaks to the global aspect of the Secretary of Transportation having the ability to work with our local and State governments. Houston is the fourth most populous city in the country. but unlike other large cities. we have struggled to have an effective mass transit system. Over many decades Houstons mass transit policy was to build more highways with more lanes to carry more drivers to and from work. The city of Houston has changed course and is now pursuing Mass transit options that include light rail. This decision to invest in light rail was and is strongly supported by Houstonians by their votes in a 2003 referendum and by their increased usage of light rail service made possible in part by transportation appropriations bills. Specifically. Harris County voters passed a massive referendum proposal that was to set the stage for transit for the next 20 years. It included a first stage of four light rail lines. to be complete by 2012. and a master plan for a 65mile system. to be complete by 2025. An April 2014 report by the Houston METRO on weekly ridership states that 44.267 used Houstons light rail service. which represented a 6.096 or 16% increase in ridership from April of the previous year. This increase in light rail usage outpaced ridership of other forms of mass transit in the city of Houston: metro bus had a 2.3% increase over April 2013. metro buslocal had a 1.3% increase over April 2013. and Metro busPark and ride had a 8.0% increase over April In a story published February 5. 2013. the Houston Chronicle reported on the congestion Houston drivers face under daily commute to and from work. According to the Chronicle article. in 2011 Houston commuters continue to enjoy some of the worst traffic delays in the country. and Houston area drivers wasted more than two days a year. on average. in traffic congestion. costing them each $1.090 in lost time and fuel. Today. those figures have increased to 3.5 days a year wasted in traffic congestion. costing them each $1.850 in lost time and fuel. To put it in simpler and starker terms: A driver in Houston could see 154 movies this year or purchase 21 tickets to a home Texans game with the money wasted because of poorly maintained or trafficclogged roads. Expanded light rail is critical to Houstons plan to meet its transportation and environmental challenges. ease its traffic congestion. and improve its air quality. Places most likely to see immediate benefit from light rail in Houston are the 50.000 students that attend the University of Houston and Texas Southern University. Funds made available under this deal should be available to support local government decisions of the Houston Metropolitan Transit Authority and the city of Houston to expand rail service. When we put our minds to it. we can get things done. In Houston. we built a port 50 miles from the ocean. created the worlds greatest medical center in the middle of open prairie. and convinced the federal government to base its astronauts in a hurricane zone 870 miles from the launch pad. Each of those achievements shares a common element: elected officials have advocated. built public support. and brought the agencies together. Members of Congress should respect the decisions of state and local governments when it comes to deciding how they will spend funding made available for public transportation under this appropriations bill. I ask my colleagues to again support the Jackson Lee Amendment and affirm the authority of the Secretary of Transportation to work with local governments to develop local transit projects that will relieve traffic congestion. efficiently move people and goods. create jobs and maintain Americas status as the leading economy in the world. I ask my colleagues to support the Jackson Lee amendment. and I yield back the balance of my time. The Acting CHAIR. The question is on the amendment offered by the gentlewoman from Texas .