Suhas Subramanyam Praises Virginia Supreme Court Ruling To Prevent Toll Hike

In House floor remarks on Monday, Suhas Subramanyam (D-VA) spoke about lower tolls.

Transcript

00:00Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the remarkable work of SEVA International, both

00:09in Virginia and around the world. Founded less than 25 years ago, SEVA International is a global

00:15humanitarian organization committed to serving those in need, and their mission focuses on

00:19several things, including disaster relief, rehabilitation, family services, women's

00:24empowerment, health, and education. And in Virginia, SEVA works hand in hand with local

00:28organizations to strengthen our communities. They support the big 9-11 National Day of Service,

00:34which will be happening again this year, offer after-school programming, provide meal service at

00:38local shelters, and help the next generation get involved in engaging high school students and

00:42volunteer work. So thank you, SEVA International, for all that you do for our communities.

00:47Mr. Speaker, last week, our community got a major win. The Supreme Court of Virginia

00:59upheld a bill that I'd passed, one that prevented a 40 percent toll hike on the Dulles Greenway,

01:04maybe more. And without this bill, tolls would have jumped from at least $5.80 to $8.10 each way. And

01:11for regular commuters like me, that's $1,150 a year back in your pocket at least. And this is a reminder

01:19of what we can achieve when we work together to take on tough fights, including for families facing

01:23high costs because this was a bipartisan initiative. And because across Virginia and across the country,

01:28families are feeling the squeeze. Housing costs are up, child care is expensive, and utility bills

01:33are rising. And in Loudoun County, tolls add an extra burden to the costs of getting to work. But

01:38this win is a step towards lowering costs for all families and a step towards addressing

01:42the broader affordability crisis. And so I'm committed to continuing this work in Congress

01:46and fighting to lower tolls even further and pushing for policies that put more money back

01:51back in the pockets of working families.