Hoyer Floor Remarks in Opposition to House Republicans' Amendment Cutting WMATA Funding

WASHINGTON, DC — Tonight, Congressman Steny H. Hoyer (MD-05) delivered the following remarks on the House Floor in opposition to House Republicans' amendment that would cut funds for the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) in the Republican Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act. Below is a transcript of his remarks and a link to the video:

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Click here for a link to the video.

“This is America’s subway. This is America’s Metro. Millions of people from throughout this country come here and enjoy Metro’s convenience in seeing the federal government, in seeing their national capital, and visiting all of us.

“That's why this is important to the Congress - because it's America’s subway. And that’s why, very frankly, [Former Representative] Bill Lehman many years ago referred to it as America’s subway and why the federal government would invest in its operations.

“So, I rise in strong opposition to this amendment. Obviously, a lot of people from my district ride Metro and come to work for the federal government. And thousands of federal employees rely on it to get to their work serving the American people.

“Metro is especially crucial now when many of the federal workers are returning to the office after the pandemic, which I heard in the Rules Committee we want them to do. And I agree with that. Indeed, in just the last two months, federal employee ridership has reached its highest point since the pandemic began. So, this is not just a local subway, this is the subway that all of our constituents use when they come to our city. The city of our nation.

“We depend on Metro and Metro depends on us. That’s why Congress pledged to invest $150 million in Metro capital improvement through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and why, over the years, we have invested in Metro's operations and wellbeing. We need to honor that historic commitment. This amendment would break that promise.

“This money is, as I’m sure, one of my colleagues or maybe all of my colleagues have told is matched many times over, as you would expect by the local governments, all the local governments and Washington, DC, as I’m sure its Representative, who does such an extraordinary job, Eleanor Holmes Norton pointed out.

“So I would urge my colleagues, I understand the offer of this amendment wants to cut spending in many, many places and this is one that he has chosen. But I think it is a bad choice. And I think that every Republican and every Democrat who invites his constituents or her constituents to come to Washington, who invites their employees to be here on time and at many hours of the day and night to consider strongly opposing this amendment with an overwhelming vote, bipartisan vote, because Metro has been a bipartisan effort.

“I've worked on Metro since I came here with [Former Representative] Frank Wolf. Frank Wolf was a Republican from Virginia, and we were essentially joined at the hip in fighting for Metro - not as a Republican Metro or a Democratic Metro, but for the nation's metro. Reject this amendment. Keep our word and our investment in the subway that serves all of our citizens. And I thank the gentleman for the yielding and the time and I yield back the balance.”