Statement of John Krieger, Transportation Policy Analyst, U.S. Public Interest Research Group on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee’s authorization blueprint release.
On June 18, the U.S. House of Representatives Transportation & Infrastructure Committee released its preliminary blueprint for the federal transportation bill, which will set the nation’s transportation funding priorities for the next six years.
“For the first time in history, there is major support both inside and out of Washington for a new kind of transportation bill that promotes energy-efficiency, with policies that make it easier for people to drive less, rather than more. Both Chairman Oberstar and U.S. DOT Secretary LaHood, while differing on the timing of the bill, have emphasized the immediate need for reform, rather than pouring money into the same broken system.
“The committee’s blueprint begins a critical debate at a time of increased congestion, rising oil prices, declining reserves, and heightened concerns over energy dependency and global warming.
“In order to meet both current and future transportation challenges, the final bill that emerges from Congress must set national goals and focus on performance and accountability rather than the regular politics of Congressional trophy spending.”
Earlier this month, over 140 national advocacy organizations, representing a broad spectrum of politics and geography, sent a letter to Congress in support of HR 2724, an effort by three Congressmen to establish a unifying mission for the federal surface transportation program and to set needed and achievable performance targets, including goals to increase system safety, to repair and maintain existing assets, and to reduce congestion and carbon emissions through increased use of transit and rail.
For more information on U.S. PIRG's transportation program, click here.
