Date: 2014-06-09
Speaker: JACKSON LEE (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Mr. Chair. let me. first of all. thank Mr. LATHAM and Mr. PASTOR for their leadership on this important legislation and overall indicate that my amendment is important. but it restates a current law. In particular. what I think is important is that it emphasizes the nature of projects that create economic development. particularly in the transportation area. It cites 5309. title 49. the Secretary may make grants under this section to State and local government authorities to assist in financing. goes on to say new fixed guideway capital projects. small start projects. including acquisition of real property. It goes on to talk about car capacity improvements. including double tracking. and it specifically goes into the line of work that deals with projects on approved transportation plans. That is key. The language here says section grants to State and local governments. which means that when local governments propose their projects. the Secretary has the authority to go forward on them. Let me. for a moment. give some quotes from organizations that have supported light rail and the economic development of transportation. One statement says that we simply cannot afford to have limitations on Federal funding or turn away money that can be utilized to make our region a better place to live. work. and build businesses. It is well documented that economic development of transportation projects guides the Nation. Whether or not it is on the seaways. whether or not it is dams. whether it is highways. whether or not it is tollways. whether or not it involves other modes of transportation. they are economic engines. And it is important for the local community to be the drivers of that. One statement says that the region 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. So this amendment clearly speaks to the global aspect of the Secretary of Transportation having the ability to work with our local and State governments. I would ask my colleagues to emphasize in the support of this amendment. to recognize that we are emphasizing the crucialness of the high transportation dollars to economic development. I would hope that this appropriations bill. which is focused on Housing and Urban Development in many ways. and focused on Transportation. Housing and Urban Development as it serves sometimes the poorest people. transportation as it provides those same people the opportunity to seek employment or reach places of employmentthey should not be constrained. Federal funding that is designated and provided should not be constrained. I would lastly make this point: that when you go through the environmental process through NEPA and that process is completed. and it has all the ts crossed and the is dotted and the hearings are in. it is important that this authority that I just mentioned is allowed to proceed. Again. I emphasize the Secretary may make grants under this section to State and local government authorities to assist in the financing of any number of transportation projects. I ask my colleagues to support this amendment. and with that. I will yield back with the point that. again. this meets the test of recognizing that important cities across America have the ability to receive this funding. including the fourthlargest city in the Nation. With that. I yield back the balance of my time. Thank you for this opportunity to briefly explain my amendment. Let me offer my appreciation and thanks to Ranking Member PASTOR and to Chairman LATHAM for their work on this legislation and long commitment and advocacy for sound domestic policy regarding our nations transportation systems and provide for affordable safe housing to our nations citizens. 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 is strongly supported by the increased use by Houstonians in the light rail service provided by previous transportation appropriations bills. The April 2014. Houston metropolitan transit Authority report on weekly ridership states that 44.267 used Houstons light rail Service representing a 6.096 or 16% change in ridership in April of last 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 On February 5. 2013. the Houston Chronicle reported on the congestion Houston drivers face under daily commute to and from work. The article stated that Houston commuters continue to enjoy some of the worst traffic delays in the country. according to the 2012 urban mobility report. 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. Funds made available under this deal should be available for the construction of the University rail line and support of local government decisions by the Houston Metropolitan transit Authority and the city of Houston to expand rail service. As elected officials and members of Congress we should allow local governments to decide how they will spend transportation dollars made available under this appropriations bill. The Acting CHAIR. The question is on the amendment offered by the gentlewoman from Texas .