2014 – S 3036
Enacted 05/28/14
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
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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