Rep. Peter DeFazio Introduces Grow America Act
Rep. Peter DeFazio (D-Ore.), the chamber’s top Democrat on the transportation policy panel, introduced President Obama’s transportation plan as legislation on the same day the House approved a two-month funding patch for highway programs.
DeFazio’s move is meant as a reminder of the need for a multiyear platform that ensures funding for infrastructure projects, since GOP leaders who control the chambers are not expected to take up the president’s proposal anytime soon.
"Congress cannot continue to ignore the serious need for a long-term surface transportation reauthorization and continue to devolve federal responsibility by default," DeFazio said in a statement. "...We can’t sit around and wait for the Ways and Means Committee to dictate how much money they will designate. We need to tell them how much investment America needs to fix our crumbling roads, bridges and public transit systems. Congress needs to figure out how to fund it. ... No more lip-service, no more promises, no more delays. If Congress has two months to figure out a long-term solution, every day counts and we need to begin work today,” said DeFazio.
On the floor of the House, Rep. Donna Edwards (D-Md.), expressed support for the president’s proposal.
“This bill will serve us well to provide $478 billion over six years for our highways, bridges, transit, rail and highway safety programs … It is the type of plan that we have to ensure our major league economy does not have the infrastructure that would not even fit children playing in T-ball,” Edwards said.
House lawmakers approved a two-month extension of highway programs, which GOP leaders in the Senate are expected to support. Meanwhile, transportation authorizers in the Senate said they will mark up a six-year highway bill in June.
Last year, Republicans did not consider the previous Grow America Act that would have authorized $302.3 billion over four years, opting to approve instead a 10-month funding extension for highway programs.
