WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman Jim Himes (CT-4) spoke out on the House floor today regarding the failure of the House Republican Majority’s bill (H.R. 4745) to provide adequate funding for the nation’s transportation infrastructure for fiscal 2015. Himes discussed the urgent need to make meaningful investments in the nation's highway and transit infrastructure, highlighting the problems that have plagued the Metro-North rail system.
“This bill is not just bad policy but it is a danger to the safety and economic health of my constituents and to all Americans,” Himes said. “I'm tired of my constituents having their personal lives damaged, having their safety put at risk, and having their businesses jeopardized because we have not invested enough in our infrastructure.”
Click here to watch his full remarks.
The House bill proposes deep cuts to rail and transit initiatives, calling for a $200 million cut for Amtrak’s capital grants and a $252 million cut to the Federal Transit Administration’s capital investment program. It also would slash TIGER grant funding from $600 million in fiscal 2014 to $100 million in fiscal 2015.