Full Committee Markup
House Committee on Transportation & Infrastructure
September 14th, 2021 at 10 A.M. EDT
Witnesses:
· The Honorable Elizabeth Fletcher (TX-07)
· The Honorable Robert J. Wittman (VA-01)
· The Honorable Marcy Kaptur (OH-09)
The House Committee on Transportation & Infrastructure met on September 14th to consider legislative proposals on the Committee’s portion of the budget reconciliation bill. Led by Chair Peter DeFazio (D-OR), the Committee conducted the bill markup for over 15 hours. Extensive discussions were held on matters of improving American infrastructure through designated funding for better sustainability, resilience, and equitability.
Representative Elizabeth Fletcher (R-TX) addressed the importance of port resilience and sustainability in the wake of fatal natural disasters, particularly along the Gulf Coast. Representative Fletcher advocated for the construction of large floodgates at the entrance of Galveston Bay, a vital inlet for U.S. merchant marines, citing the nation’s economic state is dependent on the surrounding ports’ ability to withstand damage.
Supporting Representative Fletcher’s remarks on the necessity of port resilience and sustainability, Representative Robert Wittman (R-VA) touched upon the need for funding port expansions. While the Port of Virginia already accounts for over 400,000 jobs and $92 billion in spending across the Commonwealth of Virginia, Representative Wittman noted that federal investment in expansion efforts could generate $78 million back annually from national trade.
At the conclusion of the markup, the Committee advanced legislation that designated $60 billion dollars to numerous national improvement efforts within their jurisdiction. Such funding includes $1.1 billion for climate resilient Coast Guard infrastructure, 2.5 billion to the Maritime Administration for supply chain resilience and sustainable port infrastructure, and $500 million to FEMA’s hazard mitigation revolving loan fund program.
For a recording of the full committee hearing, please visit the Committee’s hearings calendar.