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Washington, D.C. – Congressman Pete Visclosky (D-Ind.), Chairman of the Congressional Steel Caucus, and Congressman Tim Murphy (R-Pa.), Vice Chairman of the Congressional Steel Caucus, along with 34 other bipartisan members of the Caucus, today sent the following letter to Speaker Pelosi urging passage of a surface transportation authorization bill as soon as possible in order to support job creation and advance the nation’s economic recovery:
October 22, 2009
The Honorable Nancy Pelosi
U.S. House of Representatives
H232 The Capitol
Washington, DC 20515
Dear Speaker Pelosi:
We are writing as members of the Congressional Steel Caucus to share our strong support for passage of a surface transportation authorization bill as soon as possible in order to help grow jobs and aid in our nation’s economic recovery.
Providing federal funds for infrastructure projects provides jobs and revenue to state and local communities, and has a positive impact on a wide array of individuals from steel producers, to suppliers, to manufacturers of goods. As you may know, a Department of Transportation study reported that every $1 billion invested in federal highways supports nearly 35,000 American jobs. Timely infrastructure funding will truly be the second stimulus package.
In order to continue to be a global leader, the U.S. must upgrade its crumbling infrastructure. For years we haven’t invested enough funding to sustain our current infrastructure, let alone keep up with our expanding needs. The American Society of Civil Engineers has estimated that $1.6 trillion is needed over a five year period to bring the nation’s infrastructure to a “good condition.” We support providing adequate levels of funding in the reauthorization for all federal infrastructure needs, including highways, waterways, rail, aviation, and pipelines.
Again, we believe that it is vitally important for Congress to take on the surface transportation reauthorization bill in an expeditious manner. The uncertainty from a series of extensions and stop-gap funding measures will have a negative impact on states, contractors, suppliers, and small businesses, and will only continue to inhibit our economic recovery.
Sincerely,
Rep. PETE VISCLOSKY, Chairman
Rep. TIM MURPHY, Vice Chairman
Rep. JASON ALTMIRE
Rep. MICHAEL ARCURI
Rep. MARION BERRY
Rep. ROB BISHOP
Rep. JOHN BOCCIERI
Rep. LEONARD BOSWELL
Rep. BRUCE BRALEY
Rep. G. K. BUTTERFIELD
Rep. CHRISTOPHER CARNEY
Rep. JERRY COSTELLO
Rep. KATHY DAHLKEMPER
Rep. JOE DONNELLY
Rep. MIKE DOYLE
Rep. DEBBIE HALVORSON
Rep. PHIL HARE
Rep. TIM HOLDEN
Rep. JESSE JACKSON, Jr.
Rep. MARCY KAPTUR
Rep. DENNIS KUCINICH
Rep. STEVEN LATOURETTE
Rep. DANIEL LIPINSKI
Rep. DAVE LOEBSACK
Rep. ALAN MOLLOHAN
Rep. JOHN MURTHA
Rep. TIM RYAN
Rep. JOHN SHIMKUS
Rep. MARK SOUDER
Rep. ZACK SPACE
Rep. JOHN SPRATT
Rep. BART STUPAK
Rep. BETTY SUTTON
Rep. CHARLIE WILSON
Rep. JOE WILSON
Rep. JOHN YARMUTH
Cc: Majority Leader Steny Hoyer
Majority Whip James Clyburn
Chief Deputy Majority Whip John Lewis
Chairman James Oberstar
Ranking Member John Mica
Chairman Peter DeFazio
Ranking Member John Duncan |
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