Continued Inaction on the Highway Trust Fund and Reauthorization of Our Surface Transportation Programs

Congresswoman Elizabeth Esty
Congressional Record: 114th Congress
July 14, 2015

(Ms. ESTY asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend her remarks.)

Ms. ESTY. Mr. Speaker, exactly 2 months ago, I came to the floor to speak out against this House's reckless inaction on the highway trust fund, needlessly endangering hundreds of thousands of good-paying jobs. Yet here we are again, with only 10 legislative days left before the highway trust fund runs out of money. Mr. Speaker, this is harmful and it is wrong.

According to the American Society of Civil Engineers, 73 percent of Connecticut's roads are in poor or mediocre condition. These poor road conditions cost the average Connecticut driver $628 in otherwise unnecessary repairs and expenses every year. Thirty-five percent of Connecticut's bridges are structurally deficient, functionally obsolete, or both.

A great nation does not respond to crises with duct tape. A great nation leads with bold action. I urge the leadership of the House to work with us to pass a long-term highway bill and invest in America's infrastructure.