Call for 21st Century Transportation Bill

WASHINGTON -- Today, U.S. Representative Mike Quigley (IL-05) made a call for a 21st century transportation bill.

Below is a video and transcript of the speech.

Mr. Speaker, infrastructure investment is key to growing our economy and creating jobs, which is why President Obama committed to a 40 percent increase in infrastructure funding in his budget released this week.

Despite the fact that every billion dollars invested in infrastructure creates 30,000 jobs, over the past 50 years, our investment in infrastructure has shrunk by half. Meanwhile, China is investing four times as much as we do in transportation.

We need these investments in Chicago, where we've got a century old transit system that needs updates to keep up with increased capacity. And by the way, the Chicago Transit Authority carries more people in a month than Amtrak does in a year.

We also need 1,000 miles of roads to be repaired. 675 bridges are structurally deficient or functionally obsolete.

Our crumbling infrastructure is slowing economic growth, and without serious long-term investments we simply will not be able to compete in today's global economy.

The president outlined his 21st century infrastructure plan this week, now it's time for Democrats and Republicans in Congress to work together on the long term transportation bill the American people are asking for.

Thank you and I yield back.