OFFICIALS LEGISLATION INTEREST GROUPS PUBLIC STATEMENTS COMMITTEES VETOES

Motion to Instruct Conferees on H.R. 4348, Surface Transportation Extension Act of 2012, Part II

Floor Speech

Date: April 25, 2012
Location: Washington, DC
Issues: Transportation

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Mr. BUCSHON. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in opposition to this motion to instruct. The House needs to conference with the Senate and craft a long-term highway bill.

In MAP 21, the Senate bill, there is a provision that was offered by Senator Bingaman that provided disincentive to States and cities to consider partnering with the private sector for fear of losing a percentage of its Federal funding. This is only one of the many problems I have with the Senate bill.

In my State of Indiana, Governor Daniels made the bold move to enter into a public-private partnership for the Indiana toll road. Indiana received over $4 billion up front for the lease of this road. When the Governor announced this public-private partnership, Members of this body were critical of the decision, and some even claimed that it would never work.

Not only has it been successful for the Indiana toll road, but it has also resulted in over $6.5 billion invested in infrastructure projects throughout Indiana. After 30 years of planning, Interstate 69 in my district is being built connecting Evansville, the third largest city in the State, to Annapolis.

The Indiana toll road is a perfect example of how business and government can work together to address America's infrastructure needs. The Bingaman amendment ignores these types of successes, and rather than rewarding, States are putting the American taxpayer first and pursuing alternative funding for roads. It will punish a State and take away portions of their Federal funding. Under the Bingaman amendment, Indiana would lose $72 million. Nevada, I should point out, will lose $66 million.

In these challenging fiscal times, public-private partnerships represent an exciting option to many States to better leverage their Federal transportation dollars. Congress should take positive steps to encourage innovative financing strategies like public-private partnerships rather than penalizing them. The only way to fully address our Nation's infrastructure needs is to involve the private sector. The Federal Government can't do everything.

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