LaMalfa rejects Democrats’ infrastructure proposal in House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee
Congressman Doug LaMalfa issued the following statement after the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee passed the Majority’s partisan $494 billion INVEST in America Act out of committee without his support. This legislation would enact a 62 percent increase on funding levels for infrastructure but fails to include any “pay-fors” or address the Highway Trust Fund going dry. Additionally, the INVEST in America Act prioritizes extreme environmental policy priorities, while ignoring the infrastructure needs of rural America.
The INVEST in America Act funding levels are as follows:
- Surface Transportation: $434 billion;
- Highways: $320 billion;
- Transit: $105 billion;
- Safety: $10 billion; and,
- Rail Transportation: $57 billion.
LaMalfa said: “The INVEST in America Act repackages socialist Green New Deal priorities that will serve little benefit to Americans who live outside of cities like San Francisco and Los Angeles. Our infrastructure undoubtedly needs a revamp, but at a $494 billion price tag with no financing solutions, this package is more harmful than helpful.
“For example, high-speed rail is eligible for $19 billion in funding in this bill. You can look to California’s high-speed rail failure to understand this is wasteful and misguided. Northern Californians prioritize better roads, more access to public lands, increased water storage, and improved rural electric and broadband infrastructure, not expensive green energy or being pushed to drive electric vehicles.
“The Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure is one of the only bipartisan committees left in the House. This reputation will be destroyed by this majority being more focused on sending a message of support to extreme environmentalists than real infrastructure proposals. Upgrading our infrastructure can only happen if we work together. If Democrats keep spouting “my way or the highway,” (or even, NO highway) our infrastructure will continue to sit, unimproved.”
