Transportation
Democrats’ Make It In America plan is based on the belief that when more products are made in America, more families will be able to Make It In America. The plan is intended to create the conditionsto help American businesses produce goods here, innovate here, and create jobs here; it includes many of the investments necessary for America to out-educate, out-innovate, and out-build its international competitors. President Obama has already signed ten Make It In America bills into law, many of which won bipartisan support. Business and labor leaders alike support Democrats’ Make It In America plan—because Making It In America is central to the future of our competitiveness, our jobs, and our place in the world.
“Today the House passed a conference report that will give certainty to millions of students and that will pave the way for jobs and economic growth. This should have been done weeks ago, but instead Republicans took us to the brink of seeing the highway bill expire and student loan interest rates double.
“I am disappointed that tonight, House Republicans rejected the Senate’s bipartisan transportation bill —despite still lacking a long-term plan of their own. It has been over 100 days since the Senate passed a bipartisan transportation bill, one that continues the long, bipartisan tradition of the parties working together on this legislation. The Senate approved the bipartisan transportation bill by a strong vote of 74-22, with 22 Senate Republicans crossing the aisle to support it. It has been promoted by Chambers of Commerce in cities and counties across America, and highway safety advocates have hailed its new provisions to reduce deaths and injuries on our roads. The Senate bill also expedites transportation projects without undermining our clean air laws or legislating on unrelated energy and air quality matters to the detriment of our environment. Furthermore, it leverages federal funding to protect nearly two million jobs and create a million more.
With less than one week before the highway bill expires and student loan interest rates double, House Republicans are once again trying to score political points instead to working to restore our economy. Instead of adopting bipartisan bills that create jobs and give businesses the certainty they need to grow and hire, Republican leaders are choosing instead to stage political show votes. It is time for Republicans to stop playing games with our economy and instead focus on growing the economy and creating jobs.
“Mr. Speaker, tomorrow will mark, as I said a little earlier, 100 days since the United States Senate approved its bipartisan compromise highway bill in the United States Senate. Seventy-four senators voted for that. Essentially half of the Republican conference in the United States Senate voted for that bill.
WASHINGTON, DC - House Democratic Whip Steny H. Hoyer (MD) spoke on the House Floor today about Republican plans to vote on partisan energy bills instead of addressing critical legislation. Below are his remarks and a link to the video:
With thousands of construction jobs on the line and businesses in dire need of certainty, House Republicans should not delay passing a surface transportation bill any longer. I commend Rep. Tim Walz for his leadership in introducing a motion requiring House and Senate negotiators to produce a joint version of a bill by this Friday.
With two weeks to go before the highway bill expires and student loan interest rates double, House Republicans are not taking action on either item. Instead, they're once again wasting time on political messaging bills. Their message items this week: two anti-environmental bills that do not create jobs and threaten public health.
MESSAGE FROM THE DEMOCRATIC WHIP
Today we concluded another week under this “do-nothing” Republican Congress with no action on critical legislation. Once again, House Republicans refused to take up comprehensive legislation that would create jobs or restore certainty to our economy. They are now heading home for their ninth recess, despite calls from Democrats urging the House of Representatives to stay in session to address critical legislation.&
Mr. Speaker, some of the most pressing legislative items were nowhere to be found on the Floor this week. We had an opportunity to make headway on critical legislation. Unfortunately, the leadership provided no action. Not solutions, not action, only obstruction and delay.