Date: 2012-06-29
Speaker: JACKSON LEE (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Let me thank the distinguished gentleman from Florida for his courtesies and his friendship. Weve known each other a long time. and his service has been one of great commendation. and the manager as well. Weve gathered here on the floor this morning. and I want to acknowledge that the legislative process is not always pretty. but there are lives embedded in this legislation today. And though I have concerns. I am more pointed toward this House doing things to improve the quality of life for Americans who stand by the wayside and the highways of despair waiting for us to provide jobs to improve the conditions of infrastructure and their lives. Over the past 2 years. we have seen tornadoes. Weve even seen an earthquake here in Washington. D.C. Weve seen hurricanes on the coastline where I come from in Texas. And in Florida. just recently. Hurricane Debby has pierced the infrastructure. Obviously. this legislation points to some of those needs. As I stand here today. I do want to take note of a comment made by a person in the other body and suggest to Attorney General Holder: Do not resign. We have better things to do than to speak to a Cabinet officer who is a commended public servant. So I want to make sure that that does not occur. But as I discuss this legislation. I think it is important to note several things. One. there are young people that are facing the uphill battle of getting a college education. Now well have a refuge. I held a town hall meeting. and to hear the stories of $37.000. $50.000. $90.000 in debt that these young people have. And they are first and second year. They are sophomores and juniors. Or maybe the veteran who does not fall into the schedule of veterans benefits with college and that person has an enormous amount of debt. And so Im grateful that we have frozen that interest rate. and we should say loudly to the students who are now studying that America cares about them and this House will care about them. Now. I am concerned. And I am reading language that indicates while theres been significant progress regarding MWBEsand this bill has $13 billion in it for surface transportation and highwaysthere is concern expressed in this report that we have not really met our goals to help small businesses and minorityowned businesses and womenowned businesses. And in actuality. they have an outreach goal of 10 percent. Do we realize that there are some that are receiving Federal funds that dont even meet that goal? And Im going to cite Houston Metro. because I was proud to have this body provide $900 million to Houston Metro. but Im disappointed in their lack of commitment to MWBEs. And so this is an important statement. As I read the language. it is adding women to this to create jobs. And we want to work together. We dont want to be fighting against each other. But we create jobs and we help small businesses. And that is crucial. Mass transit has been helped. But I want to note the jobs that President Obama and Democrats have been speaking of are now focused in this bill. Because as we begin to fix the crumbling infrastructure and the $13 billion that weve committed to mass transit. the highways. to the construction of infrastructure and bridges that are crumbling and those that have now been the subject of tornadoes. as I indicated. of hurricanes. deteriorating infrastructure. it can now be revitalized and rebuilt. So. Mr. Speaker. and to my colleagues. yes. I will be voting on this conference report and acknowledge the work that has been done. But more importantly. Mr. Speaker. to acknowledge that legislation sometimes. when you have to pull things from people who are desperate. may not be a process that one says is the ordinary process. But I like the fact that ordinary people have done extraordinary things. And this is an extraordinary legislative initiative with its problems. but with $13 billion going to the people of the United States and protecting our young people and doing the business of the American people. as opposed to other direction. I hope that we will move forward in serving the American people. 1l 1000