2014 -- S 3036

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LC005775

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2014

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S E N A T E   R E S O L U T I O N

RESPECTFULLY URGING THE UNITED STATES CONGRESS TO SUPPORT THE

PRESIDENT’S GROW AMERICA ACT

     Introduced By: Senators Ruggerio, Paiva Weed, McCaffrey, Goodwin, and DiPalma

     Date Introduced: May 28, 2014

     Referred To: Recommended for Immediate Consideration

     WHEREAS, Transportation contributes immensely to the nation’s economy. Investments

made to the national transportation network have helped the United States build the world’s

largest economy and the most mobile society; and

     WHEREAS, The Highway Trust Fund, which supports a significant portion of the

nation’s construction and repair of our surface transportation system, will be insolvent before the

fall of 2014, and just a few weeks later, the authorities that establish our surface transportation

programs will expire; and

     WHEREAS, Without action, many states and communities may be forced to slow or stop

work on critical transportation projects that move people, energy, and freight every day, putting

jobs at risk and slowing investment in our future; and

     WHEREAS, The Generating Renewal, Opportunity, and Work with Accelerated

Mobility, Efficiency, and Rebuilding of Infrastructure and Communities throughout America Act,

or GROW AMERICA Act, is a $302 billion, four-year transportation reauthorization proposal

that provides increased and stable funding for our nation’s highways, bridges, transit, and rail

systems; and

     WHEREAS, The Obama Administration’s proposal is funded by supplementing current

revenues with $150 billion in one-time transition revenue from pro-growth business tax reform.

This will prevent Trust Fund insolvency for four years and increase investments to meet national

economic goals; and

     WHEREAS, The GROW AMERICA Act will provide states like Rhode Island with the

certainty needed to effectively plan and start construction on projects that will support good

paying jobs over the next several years; and

     WHEREAS, The GROW AMERICA Act will also provide critical investments to fix

Rhode Island's decaying roads and bridges and ensure the safety of our transportation systems.

The proposal will increase the amount of highway funds by an average of about twenty-two

percent above FY 2014 enacted levels, while emphasizing "Fix-it-First" policies and reforms that

prioritize investments for much needed repairs and improvements; and

     WHEREAS, The GROW AMERICA Act will support opportunities for the middle class.

Today, forty-five percent of Americans lack access to public transportation, limiting their options

for jobs, education, and other necessities. The GROW AMERICA Act will provide improved

access to safer and less expensive transportation options for millions of Americans, in part by

investing $72 billion in public transportation; and

     WHEREAS, The GROW AMERICA Act will incentivize cost effective investments and

strengthen the performance incentives to maintain safety and conditions of good repair, and

expand research and technology activities in order to improve the productivity of our

transportation systems, thereby increasing taxpayer return on investment; and

     WHEREAS, Rhode Island’s transportation infrastructure relies on continued federal

support to ensure that residents of the Ocean State have access to well-maintained and safe roads,

highways, bridges, and rail systems, assets which are also essential to attracting tourists to our

beautiful state; now, therefore be it

     RESOLVED, That this Senate of the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations

hereby respectfully urges Congress to support President Obama’s GROW AMERICA Act; and be

it further

     RESOLVED, That this Senate hereby supports the comprehensive approach taken by the

GROW AMERICA Act to reform our business taxes in a manner that helps create jobs and

encourages investments in our nation’s infrastructure; and be it further

     RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to send

duly authorized copies of this resolution to the members of Rhode Island’s Congressional

delegation.

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LC005775

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