Senate Opens Debate on Bill to Fund America’s Transportation and Housing Infrastructure

‘This is a bipartisan bill that will help ensure our transportation systems are reliable, efficient, and safe. This is a bipartisan bill that will increase the efficiency and affordability of federal housing programs.’

WASHINGTON, D.C. – November 19, 2015 – (RealEstateRama) — U.S. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell made the following remarks on the Senate floor today regarding the Transportation, Housing and Urban Development Appropriations Act:

“From the outset, the new Senate has worked to realize a smarter and more inclusive appropriations process.

“That’s why we passed a budget, moving past six years of inaction.

“That’s why we passed all 12 appropriations bills through committee, moving past six years of inaction.

“Nearly all of those bills passed on a bipartisan basis. That’s why it was so disappointing to see voices on the other side try to tie them up in gridlock. But we never lost sight of the goal. We never stopped trying to move the Senate forward and our country ahead.
And because we kept pushing, we’re steadily overcoming the partisan gridlock of the past and steadily moving back to regular order on appropriations.

“Last week, we passed one bipartisan appropriations bill — the bill that funds America’s veterans.

“Today, we’ll begin work to advance another — the bill that funds America’s transportation and housing infrastructure.

“I’d like to recognize the Senator from Maine for her work in crafting a bipartisan bill that makes smart investments in critical transportation and infrastructure priorities.

“This is a bipartisan bill that will help ensure our transportation systems are reliable, efficient, and safe.

“This is a bipartisan bill that will increase the efficiency and affordability of federal housing programs.

“For example.

“The expanded Moving-to-Work program it contains will offer a helping hand to lower-income Americans.

“Moving-to-Work is one of the many success stories of the bipartisan Welfare Reform effort of the 1990s, and by expanding it from 39 to 339 housing authorities we can help more Americans achieve the self-sufficiency that’s at the core of our national dream.

“Americans who strive for a better life deserve real opportunity. They deserve serious policies that can make positive differences in their lives.

“That’s what Moving-to-Work aims to achieve.

“It’s just one more reason to pass the bipartisan transportation infrastructure bill before us.

“I again thank our colleague from Maine for her important work across the aisle to craft it.

“I look forward to debating that bill today.”