Backbencher of the Week

This week's Backbencher of the Week goes to Rep. Jerrold Nadler(D-NY-8).  One of the initial criticisms of the stimulus bill that passed the house this week was it did not contain enough money for mass transit.  When the bill was considered in the House, Nadler submitted an amendment to add 3 billion in transit funding to the bill, and the amendment passed on a voice vote.  Funding mass transit projects will go along way  towards addressing issues of putting money into the economy and addressing environmental issues.  Congratulations to Rep. Nadler for effectively standing up for mass transit, and for being Backbencher of the Week.

Honorable Mention goes to Rep. Peter Defazio(D-OR-4), Rep. Keith Ellison(D-MN-5), Rep. Michael McMahon(D-NY-13), and Dan Lipinski(D-IL-3) for co-sponsoring the amendment.  

Special recognition also goes out to Rep. John Mica(R-FL-7), who is the ranking member of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, for his work on establishing 11 high speed rail corridors in the U.S.