WASHINGTON, DC — Rep. Peter DeFazio (D-OR), Chair of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, opened debate last night on the Senate amendment to H.R. 3684, the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, and closed debate on the House floor today.
During the debate, Chair DeFazio made clear it is beyond time for Congress to make badly needed investments in America’s infrastructure to create good-paying jobs, boost American manufacturing and ingenuity, and make a down-payment on addressing the climate crisis.
“Americans are tired of potholes damaging their cars, failing bridges, decrepit transit, trains that derail, water mains that explode, sewer systems that back up into their basements and that pollute our rivers,” Chair DeFazio said on Monday as he opened debate in the House. “More than 70% of Americans strongly support a major federal investment in rebuilding our crumbling infrastructure.”
In closing debate, Chair DeFazio outlined how this legislation is the first step in reducing carbon pollution from the transportation sector, efforts that will continue in the Build Back Better Act.
“Transportation is the largest single emitter of CO2 pollution in the country. This is a critical threat to our country and the world, and we have to deal with it,” Chair DeFazio remarked as he closed debate. “We will improve on the bill with new novel programs in the reconciliation process yet to come, and deal with some of those issues.”
To watch Chair DeFazio’s full opening and closing remarks on the House floor, click here and here.
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