And local governments have the tools they need. This is a very important topic. We learn a lot when we got involved with Hurricane Center recovery and we are taking the larynx that we derive from that and trying to build into more of our programs routine resilient construction. For instance we found that stoplights needed to be waged in the ground deeper to be more resilient. And when that local leaders in my state are working hard to address whether its new york city or projects to improve sidewalks and crosswalks in upstate new york. Yielding pedestrian infrastructure and how we design our streets safe slice. As this Committee Works to revise map21 we should invest in critical safety programs that protect the safety of pedestrians including the children and the elderly and people with disabilities. What would be the implications of failing to adequately address the safety at the federal level . Its an incredibly important question senator. Between 2009 and 2013 and actually saw an up
Cspan, cspan2, cspan radio and cspan. Org. Anthony foxx testified about the highway Transportation Group and was joined at the Senate Environment and pubic works hearing on transportation and infrastructure funding. This is two hours and 15 minutes. The meeting will come to order. I say to my friend the Ranking Member that the whole right side back there is oklahoma. I came in last night and they were having a dinner i thought two or three people i knew gary rid ridley would be there, he always is. But it is all familiar faces. We have a concern there is a lot of things about what is the government supposed to be doing and quite often, and the reason i got in on this 20 years ago is because this is what we are supposed to be doing. Building america and infrastructure. We understand that in oklahoma. We have gone through a process and i recall over in the house, secretary foxx knew what the biggest problem was in the Highway Trust Fund . Too much surplus. That was the problem we had. We
That is why we sent you to grow america act last year and why we will send you a new and improved grow america act this year. We certainly know that the grow america act is not the only approach to solving the infrastructure and mobility challenges of the future. We look forward to fully engaging this committee and with others on both sides of the aisle to chart this path together. But we believe there are some essential principles that any bill must have. First were going to need a substantially greater investment. Were also going to need a greater level of investment over time. Not just six months, or even two years. If we want communities to build big projects they can take in some cases five years or more. We need to ensure funding for roughly that same amount of time. I think senator boxers analogy of trying to buy a house with a fivemonth loan is a great analogy. There are processes that neat to be dealt with. We believe we can do that while ensuring better outcome for the enviro
Great big mansion if we have the resources to build a hut. And i think that our system right now really needs a substantial injection of a longterm bill but also substantial growth to counteract the cumulative effect of the shortterm measures in the recent past. And one followup real quickly on that specific point. Is there a version of that proposal you are talking about that doesnt have the big tax increase on successful folks as part of it . Because going back to the spirit of my comments, im suggesting that, you know, we get real and we cut to the chase so we actually solve this in a meaningful way by may. So if were just talking about that version, in all due respect, i dont think that is meeting my test. Well, you know, the green book last year published three specific ideas about pro Growth Business tax reform that i think potentially would meet your test. One was eliminating lifo. Another was eliminating accelerated depreciation. And a third one was pulling some of the untaxed