SENATOR COLLINS’ STATEMENT ON INFRASTRUCTURE BILL VOTE
U.S. Senator Susan Collins released this statement following her vote to support consideration of a transportation infrastructure investment bill introduced by Senator Orrin Hatch (R-UT).
“We need to agree on a realistic and bipartisan path forward to spur job creation and boost our economy. But we must do so without further burdening small businesses, which create the vast majority of jobs in our country. The legislation that I supported today is a comprehensive plan that would help boost private sector job growth.
“This legislation included an 18-month extension of the highway bill which would immediately preserve vital jobs and lead to a stronger economy. This extension is critical. Congress has passed eight short-term extensions in just two years. This makes it impossible for states to responsibly plan for important highway and bridge construction projects. Without this extension, thousands of highway projects around the country would be halted and thousands of jobs would be lost.
“At a time when millions of Americans are out of work and manufacturers are struggling to retain jobs, it simply does not make sense for Washington to swamp businesses in red tape and new regulations. Doing so would only create further uncertainty, making it impossible for them to plan, grow, and add jobs. That’s why I am pleased that this bill included the "Regulatory Time Out" language that I wrote. These provisions would impose a one-year moratorium on costly new rules having an impact of $100 million or more on the economy, if those rules would have an adverse impact on jobs, the economy, or our international competitiveness. This common-sense provision would encourage job creation and give America’s job creators certainty during these tough economic times.
“In addition, this legislation included my proposal to give the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) the time it says it needs to adequately consider new rules on boilers. The EPA has proposed onerous new rules that would impose billions of dollars of new costs on mills that use biomass for energy. Nationwide, these new boiler rules could jeopardize thousands of manufacturing jobs, particularly in the forest products industry, which is the economic backbone of many rural areas here in Maine.
“This legislation was fully paid for and would not have forced small businesses to pay more at a time when they can least afford it.
“The fact is, Democrats and Republicans have to come together, sit down, and negotiate a solution to our economic troubles that can garner enough bipartisan support to move us forward.”
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“We need to agree on a realistic and bipartisan path forward to spur job creation and boost our economy. But we must do so without further burdening small businesses, which create the vast majority of jobs in our country. The legislation that I supported today is a comprehensive plan that would help boost private sector job growth.
“This legislation included an 18-month extension of the highway bill which would immediately preserve vital jobs and lead to a stronger economy. This extension is critical. Congress has passed eight short-term extensions in just two years. This makes it impossible for states to responsibly plan for important highway and bridge construction projects. Without this extension, thousands of highway projects around the country would be halted and thousands of jobs would be lost.
“At a time when millions of Americans are out of work and manufacturers are struggling to retain jobs, it simply does not make sense for Washington to swamp businesses in red tape and new regulations. Doing so would only create further uncertainty, making it impossible for them to plan, grow, and add jobs. That’s why I am pleased that this bill included the "Regulatory Time Out" language that I wrote. These provisions would impose a one-year moratorium on costly new rules having an impact of $100 million or more on the economy, if those rules would have an adverse impact on jobs, the economy, or our international competitiveness. This common-sense provision would encourage job creation and give America’s job creators certainty during these tough economic times.
“In addition, this legislation included my proposal to give the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) the time it says it needs to adequately consider new rules on boilers. The EPA has proposed onerous new rules that would impose billions of dollars of new costs on mills that use biomass for energy. Nationwide, these new boiler rules could jeopardize thousands of manufacturing jobs, particularly in the forest products industry, which is the economic backbone of many rural areas here in Maine.
“This legislation was fully paid for and would not have forced small businesses to pay more at a time when they can least afford it.
“The fact is, Democrats and Republicans have to come together, sit down, and negotiate a solution to our economic troubles that can garner enough bipartisan support to move us forward.”
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