Transportation For America » Nadler amendment passes overwhelmingly

Nadler amendment passes overwhelmingly

January 28, 2009
By Stephen Lee Davis

Updated: With quotes from speakers

Rep. Nadler’s amendment passed, adding $3 billion to the transit funding in the House stimulus package this afternoon.

On C-SPAN at least, it was hard to hear any “nays” on the voice vote. Nearly everyone spoke in favor of the amendment, and it passed with only a voice vote. No roll call required.

There was strong support from Appropriations Chairman Obey, Transportation and Infrastructure Chair Oberstar, and moral support from the only opponent.

The only opposition was from Jerry Lewis: “If there were an offset, this is an amendment I could very much support.”

John Mica, the ranking Republican on the T&I Committee said, “the Nadler amendment is one we have to support. … What’s most offensive is they [the appropriations committee] took one of the most important parts out for rail and transit, actually cut it down. Let me tell you, that’s just a little bit of money. … Folks, this is about creating jobs, and every billion dollars we put in is 28,000 to 35,000 jobs.”

Rep. DeFazio, who co-sponsored the amendment and offered an amendment that would have extended operating assistance to transit agencies had this to say: “We’ve had the greatest one-year increase in riders in 50 years. Transit agencies have $160 billion in deferred maintenance. 12,000 buses … need to be replaced. Transit agencies have 10,000 options for buses made in America that can’t be executed.”

Several speakers mentioned the need for emergency operating assistance without saying it directly.

Thank you to everyone who called and weighed in on this amendment with your Reps. From everything that we heard from sources on the Hill and with leadership, our broad base of support and the many calls and meetings made a difference in getting this amendment to the floor and garnering the support of House leadership.

It’s not over yet, with the vote on the stimulus package yet to come, but this was a big victory.

Photo of Rep. Jerrold Nadler from America2050.org