| 00:00:00 | THE BILL PASSED THE SENATE WITH A BIPARTISAN 74-22 VOTE. |
| 00:00:05 | WHILE IT'S NOT A PERFECT BILL, IT'S FULLY PAID FOR AND IS ESTIMATED TO SAVE 1. |
| 00:00:12 | 8 MILLION JOBS AND CREATE UP TO A MILLION MORE JOBS. |
| 00:00:15 | WHILE I PREFER THE FIVE-YEAR TRANSPORTATION BILL, THIS BILL IS LEGISLATION THAT BOTH REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS CAN SUPPORT. |
| 00:00:22 | A TRANSPORTATION BILL WILL NOT ONLY IMPROVE OUR INFRASTRUCTURE BUT IMPROVE JOBS AND PROVIDE JOBS. |
| 00:00:29 | I URGE MY COLLEAGUES TO BRENG UP TO THE FLOOR THIS BILL FOR A VOTE. |
| 00:00:33 | THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE GENTLEMAN'S TIME HAS EXPIRED. |
| 00:00:35 | THE GENTLEMAN FROM TEXAS. |
| 00:00:36 | >> MR. |
| 00:00:37 | SPEAKER, I ASK UNANIMOUS CONSENT TO RISE AND ADDRESS |
Mr. SIRES. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to urge my colleagues here in the House to take action and create jobs by bringing Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century, or MAP 21, to the House floor for a vote.
Yesterday, for the second time this week, the Republican leadership pulled a short-term highway extension bill. Time is running out, and the ninth extension will be expiring this Saturday, March 31. If Congress does not act by Saturday, millions of construction jobs will be at risk. Gas taxes will not be collected, which can add up to over $90 million a day.
Two weeks ago, MAP 21 successfully passed the Senate with a bipartisan vote of 74 22. While it is not a perfect bill, MAP 21 is fully paid for and is estimated to save 1.8 million jobs and create up to 1 million more jobs. While I would prefer a 5-year transportation bill, MAP 21 is legislation that both Republicans and Democrats can support. A transportation bill will not only improve our infrastructure but will provide jobs.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to bring to the floor MAP 21 for a vote.
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