By Contact: Jim Berard, 202-226-5064, jim.berard@mail.house.gov
WASHINGTON—The House today approved amendments from the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure to the proposed economic recovery bill to help create jobs and stimulate the economy more quickly.
During debate on H.R. 1, the American Economic Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, the House accepted by voice vote an amendment offered by T&I Chairman James L. Oberstar (Minn.) to compress the time line for states and transit agencies to commit to projects to be funded under the bill. The Oberstar amendment shortens the time for committing 50 percent of the funds from 180 days to 90 days under most of the provisions for highway and transit projects.
Oberstar told the House that the shorter timeline is needed in order to make sure that projects are begun and jobs created as soon as possible, and that states, cities, and other agencies receiving the funds are held accountable for how the money is spent.
“For years, state departments of transportation and transit agencies around the country have said, ‘Give us the money. We have the projects. We can get things going.’ Well, here is their opportunity,” Oberstar said.
The House also adopted an amendment to add $3 billion to funding for transit projects. The Committee had recommended $12 billion for transit, but the bill, as drafted, only designated $9 billion. The amendment adds $1.5 billion to be distributed to the states by formula and $1.5 billion for New Starts, bringing the spending total for transit up to the level of the Committee’s recommendation.
“Investing in transit is one of the smartest things we can do in America to create jobs, relieve congestion, and reduce dependence on foreign oil,” said Rep. Jerrold Nadler (N.Y.), a senior Member of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee and lead sponsor of the amendment.
Cosponsors of the amendment include Highways and Transit Subcommittee Chairman Peter A. DeFazio (Ore.) and T&I Members Daniel Lipinski (Ill.) and Michael E. McMahon (N.Y.). Rep. Keith Ellison (Minn.) is also a cosponsor of the amendment.
“We have had the greatest one-year increase in transit ridership in 50 years. Americans are loving their transit systems to death. And yet there is a $160 billion deferred maintenance backlog on these systems,” DeFazio said. “There are 10,000 options for new buses that can’t be executed because the transit systems don’t have the money. This amendment will mean thousands of those new, cleaner, fuel-efficient buses will be built, putting Americans to work.”
Lipinski added, “Investing in transit is a certain way to create jobs and do things that are much needed in this country. The Chicago Transit Authority alone could spend $500 million tomorrow to make needed improvements. Other transit systems serving the city and surrounding areas—Metra commuter rail, PACE suburban bus—have ready-to-go projects and new starts to get people back to work.”
Said McMahon, “Bang for the buck, nothing will help create more jobs than investing in transportation infrastructure. My district has some of the longest average commute times in the country, and we need this transit infrastructure badly.”
The amendment was adopted by voice vote.
Both amendments had strong bipartisan support.
Later in the day, the House approved H.R. 1 as amended by a vote of 244-188.
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