--House Republican Spending Bill Proposes Draconian and Dangerous Cuts to Job-Creating Transportation Investments, Threatening Over 300,000 American Jobs--

Washington, D.C.– House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Ranking Member Nick J. Rahall (D-WV) today slammed the House Republican Leadership’s spending bill for the remainder of Fiscal Year 2011, which proposes draconian and dangerous cuts to programs that keep America’s economy moving forward.  The House is expected to begin debate on the measure Tuesday.

“There is absolutely no doubt we need to tighten our budgetary belt, but swinging a meat ax willy nilly at transportation funding will cut the job-creating muscle of the budget right down to the bone when we should be focusing on the fat,” said Rahall.  “Every single federal dollar spent should undergo strict scrutiny and while it may appear penny-wise to slash funding straight across the board, it is pound-foolish to jeopardize America’s long-term economic recovery by hamstringing investments that create jobs, grow our economy, and foster private-sector growth.”

The Republican spending bill proposes to slash more than $18 billion from transportation and infrastructure investments.  The bill would cut the heart out of critical programs that increase efficiency of commerce, reduce fuel consumption, create jobs, and bolster our Nation’s economic recovery.

“Budgets are about priorities – while Republicans want to rollback investments that move America forward, the President today unveiled a budget that forces Washington to live within its means so we can continue to invest in America’s future,” said Rahall.  “Plain and simple, transportation investments put Americans back to work – creating jobs for today and jobs for the future.”

The Republican spending proposal would gut key investments in roads and bridges that are critical for businesses to grow and to create good-paying jobs in the US.  Republicans are proposing to rescind $2.5 billion for high-speed rail projects that have already been awarded; give pink slips to 25,000 new construction jobs and cancel 76 projects in 40 states; and throw $234 million on the chopping that would be used to improve our Nation’s air traffic control system.  The Republican proposal would also slice funding for wastewater treatment facilities and sewer lines by two-thirds, jeopardizing nearly 40,000 American jobs.

“You would certainly be lighter on your feet if you sawed off part of your thigh but that doesn’t mean you are going to run any faster.  There isn’t a single business out there that has become successful without investing in itself, and if we stop investing in America’s future it is ridiculous to think we can retire the debt of the past,” said Rahall.  “Reducing our transportation investments could jeopardize our leadership in the worldwide economy and that simply is not the road we can afford to go down right now.”          

H.R. 1
State-by-State Cuts to Clean Water State Revolving Fund Investments
Prepared by the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure Democratic Staff
February 14, 2011

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