Volume 155, No. 68 covering the 1st Session of the 111th Congress (2009 - 2010) was published by the Congressional Record.
The Congressional Record is a unique source of public documentation. It started in 1873, documenting nearly all the major and minor policies being discussed and debated.
“SUPPORTING NATIONAL PUBLIC WORKS WEEK” mentioning the Environmental Protection Agency was published in the House of Representatives section on pages H5125-H5127 on May 5, 2009.
The publication is reproduced in full below:
SUPPORTING NATIONAL PUBLIC WORKS WEEK
Ms. CORRINE BROWN of Florida. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 313) supporting the goals and ideals of National Public Works Week, and for other purposes.
The Clerk read the title of the resolution.
The text of the resolution is as follows:
H. Res. 313
Whereas public works infrastructure, facilities, and services have far-reaching effects on the United States economy and the Nation's competitiveness in the world marketplace;
Whereas public works infrastructure, facilities, and services play a pivotal role in the health, safety, and quality of life of communities throughout the United States;
Whereas public works infrastructure, facilities, and services could not be provided without the skill and dedication of public works professionals, including engineers and administrators, representing State and local governments throughout the United States;
Whereas public works professionals design, build, operate, maintain, and protect the transportation systems, water supply infrastructure, sewage and refuse disposal systems, public buildings, and other structures and facilities that are vital to the citizens, communities, and commerce of the United States;
Whereas the Corps of Engineers, in partnership with public port authorities, provides navigational improvements that link United States producers and customers with national and international markets;
Whereas the public waterways, including locks and dams constructed, operated, and maintained by the Corps of Engineers, provide a safe, energy efficient, and cost effective means of transporting goods and services;
Whereas the Corps of Engineers, in partnership with local public entities, provides levees, reservoirs, and other structural and nonstructural flood damage reduction measures that protect millions of families, homes, and businesses;
Whereas a recent analysis of the state of the United States infrastructure garnered an overall grade of ``D'';
Whereas every $1 invested in public transportation generates as much as $6 in economic returns to the Nation's economy;
Whereas the Nation's public transportation systems experienced record ridership levels in 2008 with 10,680,000,000 passenger trips taken;
Whereas infrastructure investment from all levels of government and the private sector is currently
$85,000,000,000 annually;
Whereas the capital asset program of the General Services Administration is authorized annually to provide Federal employees with necessary office space, courts of law, and other special purpose facilities;
Whereas since 1972 the Nation has invested more than
$250,000,000,000 in wastewater infrastructure facilities to establish a system that includes 16,000 publicly owned wastewater treatment plants, 100,000 major pumping stations, 600,000 miles of sanitary sewers, and 200,000 miles of storm sewers;
Whereas the Pipelines and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration is charged with the safe and secure movement of almost 1,200,000 daily shipments of hazardous materials by all modes of transportation and oversees the safety and security of 2,300,000 miles of gas and hazardous liquid pipelines, which account for 64 percent of the energy commodities consumed in the United States;
Whereas the National Railroad Passenger Corporation annually provides more than 28,000,000 people with intercity rail service;
Whereas 15 new runways, 2 end-around taxiways, and 1 reconfigured runway have opened at the Nation's busiest airports since 2001;
Whereas 3 of the Nation's busiest airports currently have airfield projects (1 new runway, 1 taxiway, and a reconfiguration) under construction to provide an additional 110,900 annual operations and to decrease average delays by approximately 1.5 minutes per operation;
Whereas in the report of the Department of Transportation entitled ``2006 Status of the Nation's Highways, Bridges, and Transit: Conditions & Performance'', the Department confirms that investment in the Nation's highway, bridge, and transit infrastructure has not kept up with growing demands on the system;
Whereas the National Surface Transportation Policy and Revenue Study Commission report estimates that the United States needs to invest up to $340,000,000,000 annually for the next 50 years to upgrade the Nation's existing transportation network to a good state of repair and to build the more advanced facilities the Nation will require to remain competitive;
Whereas the National Surface Transportation Infrastructure Financing Commission report estimates that, without changes to current policy, revenues raised by all levels of government for capital investment will total only 36 percent of the $200,000,000,000 necessary each year to maintain and improve United States highways and transit systems;
Whereas the National Surface Transportation Infrastructure Financing Commission report also finds that there is a growing investment gap in the Nation's infrastructure that will total nearly $400,000,000,000 in the years 2010 through 2015 and $2,300,000,000,000 in the years 2010 through 2035; and
Whereas public works professionals are observing National Public Works Week from May 17 through 23, 2009: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
(1) supports the goals and ideals of National Public Works Week;
(2) recognizes and celebrates the important contributions that public works professionals make every day to improve the public infrastructure of the United States and the communities that those professionals serve; and
(3) urges citizens and communities throughout the United States to join with representatives of the Federal Government in activities and ceremonies that are designed to pay tribute to the public works professionals of the Nation and to recognize the substantial contributions that public works professionals make to the Nation.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Corrine Brown) and the gentleman from Arkansas (Mr. Boozman) each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from Florida.
General Leave
Ms. CORRINE BROWN of Florida. Madam Speaker, I ask that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks on House Resolution 313.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the gentlewoman from Florida?
There was no objection.
Ms. CORRINE BROWN of Florida. I rise in support of this resolution and yield myself as much time as I may consume.
Madam Speaker, each year during the month of May, we celebrate National Public Works Week. The public works professionals that we recognize today provide the country with essential services and keep our roads safe, our drinking water clean, and our Nation moving. House Resolution 313 honors American public works professionals and celebrates their work from May 17 through 23, 2009.
The public works professionals that we recognize today keep our country running in the most basic and fundamental ways possible. These professionals design, construct and rehabilitate our transportation system, water infrastructure, levees, public buildings and other structures and facilities that are an intimate part of everyday life in the United States.
It is appropriate to set aside 1 week each year to recognize the role that public works play in our daily life. Far too often we take for granted clean water or the method of transportation that we use to get to work. In fact, we do not begin to fully appreciate these everyday conveniences until they fail us. What happened in New Orleans made the importance of public works crystal clear to everyone. Their lack of clean water, safe infrastructure and basic human needs was a stark reminder that we need to be vigilant to ensure that the citizens of our country get the critical services they need in their lives.
I visited New Orleans numerous times following the hurricane, and I want to encourage everyone not to forget New Orleans, because they still have a ton of rebuilding that needs to be done there and in the other gulf States.
As our Nation's infrastructure ages, it is increasingly likely that more and more elements of it will cease to be productive without renewed investment. It is for this reason that we must recognize the need to revitalize our infrastructure and find ways to make it more efficient.
House Resolution 313 honors the tens of thousands of public works professionals that serve the public quietly. These are the professionals that keep our country operating safely.
Madam Speaker, I support this resolution and hope that all my colleagues will support it as well.
I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. BOOZMAN. Madam Speaker, I yield myself as much time as I may consume.
Madam Speaker, investment in the Nation's highway, bridge and transit infrastructure has not kept up with growing demands on the system. The National Surface Transportation Policy and Revenue Study Commissions reported that the United States needs to invest up to $340 billion annually over the next 50 years to upgrade the Nation's transportation network.
The Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure has jurisdiction over our water transportation system, which consists of 926 coastal and inland harbors maintained by the Corps of Engineers and 25,000 miles of inland and coastal commercial waterways. If we do not keep our harbors and waterways operating efficiently, we threaten our economic prosperity.
To meet these needs, as well the need for flood protection and environmental restoration, passing a water resources development act for 2010 should be high on the committee's agenda. According to separate studies conducted by the Congressional Budget Office, EPA and municipal groups, the current rate of capital investment will not keep our wastewater treatment systems operational. State and local governments are spending approximately $10 billion a year in capital investments in wastewater infrastructure. Most of this funding comes from the local taxpayers. However, to meet the needs of communities all over the United States, our Nation should be doubling that spending.
We can't continue to take our wastewater treatment facilities for granted. Not only are they critical to protecting our health and the environment; they are critical to protecting our economy and our way of life. Public infrastructure plays a critical role in enhancing our quality of life, improving our environment and contributes to our economic prosperity.
We take these systems and the professionals, engineers and administrators for granted. So it is important for Congress to recognize the contribution they make to ensuring America remains the world's premier economic power.
I appreciate Mr. Oberstar in bringing this resolution forward. I urge all Members to support H. Res. 313.
I reserve the balance of my time.
Ms. CORRINE BROWN of Florida. I yield as much time as she may consume to Ms. Eddie Bernice Johnson of Texas.
Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Thanks to Ms. Brown and Mr. Boozman for handling this legislation today. Today we considered House Resolution 313, recognizing National Public Works Week from May 17 through May 23, 2009.
The National Public Works Week is celebrated in May each year. This resolution pays tribute to the professionals that design, build and maintain critical elements of our Nation's infrastructure. This body has always understood the value of these professionals and what they bring to our society. Professionals in the public works sector provide us with safe and efficient roads, access to clean drinking water and other essential services that keep our country running.
It has become increasingly important that Congress designate 1 week each year to recognize those who work in the public works sector. Many people take for granted the public transportation system they use to commute each day or the safe running water in their homes. Far too often we do not realize the importance of these systems until something goes wrong.
At the beginning of this Congress, the House passed a key water infrastructure bill, H.R. 1262, the Water Quality Investment Act of 2009. And this piece of legislation increases authorization levels of the Clean Water State Revolving Fund, grants provided by the Environmental Protection Agency to address combined and sanitary sewer overflows, as well as grants for alternative water source projects. These grants will go one step further to ensure that every American has access to clean water.
Madam Speaker, on February 17, 2009, President Obama signed into law the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act. The legislation provides for over $64 billion in investment in our Nation's highway system, rail system and environmental infrastructure, not enough but steps in the right direction. It is investment in these areas as well as other critical infrastructure areas that will put America back to work and see us out of these troubling economic times.
I'm grateful for the administrators, engineers and servicemen who continue to utilize their skills and dedication to provide these essential services to us.
I support this resolution and urge my colleagues to join me and give our public works professionals the recognition that they deserve.
Mr. BOOZMAN. Madam Speaker, I continue to reserve my time.
Ms. CORRINE BROWN of Florida. I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. OBERSTAR. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Res. 313, supporting the goals and ideals of National Public Works Week.
H. Res. 313 recognizes the week of May 17 through 23, 2009, as National Public Works Week and pays tribute to our public works professionals. This week has been designated by a variety of groups to celebrate those public works professionals who keep our nation running in the most basic and fundamental ways.
These professionals protect our public health, our economy, and our communities. They design, build, and maintain vital transportation systems, levees, sewage systems, and public buildings that enhance everyday life in our nation.
Today, we are all eminently aware of the financial issues that Americans are facing. What we are less aware of, however, is the current state of our nation's failing infrastructure. Critical elements of our highway system, drinking water infrastructure, and wastewater treatment facilities, are failing us in dangerous ways.
To reinvigorate our economy, Congress passed the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act of 2009. This landmark piece of legislation invests in key infrastructure areas, is currently putting Americans back to work in the public works sector, and is improving the state of our nation's infrastructure.
The Recovery Act provides $64.1 billion of investment in critical transportation and infrastructure programs. These investments include:
$27.5 billion for highways and bridges;
$8.4 billion for public transit capital investment;
$4 billion for state water pollution control revolving funds;
$4.6 billion for water-related infrastructure of the Corps of Engineers; and
$5.575 billion for federal buildings.
I am confident that investment in these areas will put more of our nation's public works professionals back to work and improve our economy. Just last week, the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure held a hearing on the implementation of the Recovery Act and found that as of March 31st, more than 1,250 people have been put back to work in 263 highways projects in 30 states.
As a result of our efforts, more than 1,200 families can rest more easily with the promise of a paycheck, and can continue to make the day-to-day expenditures that will help turn this economy around.
This is the promise that Congress made to the American people--to invest wisely in our infrastructure systems and help the nation's economy recover.
We cannot underestimate the importance of infrastructure investment. Quite frankly, the public works professionals that we are honoring today protect our citizens, our economy, and our communities.
Madam Speaker, I strongly support this resolution and urge my colleagues to do the same.
Mr. BOOZMAN. After thanking the chairlady for being here and Mr. Oberstar for bringing this bill forward, I urge support and yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Corrine Brown) that the House suspend the rules and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 313.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the rules were suspended and the resolution was agreed to.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
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