We hear all this talk about minimumwage as relates to young workers. The fact of the matter is the average age of minimumwage employees is 35 years old. And they have the least one show. So this is all about lifting households, women, children above the poverty level. I would hope that the congress, our republican friends would join us in passing the bill raising the minimum wage. With that and would like to yield to the vice chair of our caucus. Desperately searching for a job and have now been denied insurance. What that really means to these individuals is as they continue to look for work for education, food, medicine, r ent, mortgage cover their government is not there because the Republican Caucus uses this against individuals and their families. The gentleman from new york contacted me is there anyway we could see a bill this week before we broke for the district work period and i said i dont think it was likely after the senate was unable to pass. It is difficult to tell someon
Energy needs and friendlier towards their environment. So why are we doing this . We have got to make the tough decisions. The tough decision has to be made in conjunction with our colleagues on the Senate Finance committee and all the members. I happen to serve on both committees that we need to have the revenues necessary to support a longterm surface transportation reauthorization. We have to recognize the realities of the current revenue flow into the Transportation Trust fund is inadequate as its based on the gasoline tax in the we have been very effective at bringing down the volume in regards to the use of gasoline and or efficient engines alternative ways so we need to look at ways we can have an adequate source so i hope he would be open to things such as carbon fees or other ways to get the revenues necessary but i know transportation is a bipartisan issue and senator inhofe has been one of the great leaders moving forward on infrastructure. Senator vitter also strongly suppo
Captions Copyright National cable satellite corp. , 2014 ] hy trust fund is projected to become insolvent by the end of the summer. The effect would have severe impacts and my state of new york. New york has 628 federal aid highway projects for 2015 which requires approximately 2 billion for the funding. 40 of these projects are bridges that are in need of construction or repair. Without the new funding from the Highway Trust Fund to start these projects next year new york state would have to begin restricting the use of roads and bridges that are no longer safe or can no longer handle the capacity for which they were originally designed. This would result in detours, delays, problems getting things that need to be brought into our commerce. It means more time and money loss for businesses and families who are just struggling to make it in this tough economy. New york state is by no means alone. This will hurt every single one of her states and ripple your role whole Transportation Sys
Now a Senate Panel Examines the federal Highway Trust Fund which is expected to run out of money in august of this year. Chamber of commerce ceo Thomas Donohue told congress to gradually increase the gas tax to cover the shortage. Aflcio president Richard Trumka testified at this hour and 45 minute Public Works Committee hearing. Good morning everybody. Its so good to see you all here. This is such an important issue that we are discussing today. We are focusing on the maintaining federal funding for transportation, maintaining federal funding. That is what is at stake here for transportation. Ensuring the longterm solvency of the Highway Trust Fund and averting a major crisis later this year. We will hear from our witnesses who are National Leaders representing businesses, states and workers who build, maintain and utilize our Transportation System. I am so pleased to once again welcome tom donohue from the u. S. Chamber and richard sub one from the aflcio. I at least feel when they a