Ehlers asks for wise spending of stimulus transportation funds at hearing

WASHINGTON – Today, the House Committee on Transportation & Infrastructure, of which Congressman Vernon J. Ehlers is a member, heard testimony from Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood, and others, regarding spending on transportation and infrastructure programs in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

Congressman Ehlers submitted the following statement for the record:

“Thank you, Mr. Chairman, for holding this important oversight hearing today.  I applaud the Committee’s efforts in keeping track of how we are spending our taxpayer money, and holding states and the federal agencies accountable.  It is vital that the funds in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act be used to create new jobs, not just fill existing budget shortfalls. 

“I did not vote for the Recovery Act, in part because I do not believe it provides enough funding for transportation and infrastructure programs, or create enough jobs.  Supporters of the Recovery Act estimate that is may create 3.5 million jobs – which is no doubt a good thing; however, with a price tag of nearly $800 billion, that equates to more than $200,000 per job.  We could have done better.  Regrettably, out of this $800 billion, only eight percent, or $64 billion will be invested in infrastructure and transportation programs. 

“As many of you know, the economy in my home state of Michigan is terrible, the worst in the nation.  We currently have the highest unemployment rate, 12.6 percent in March, and the automotive industry, the backbone of the Michigan economy, continues to hemorrhage jobs.  Another sector that has taken a serious beating in Michigan and around the country is the construction industry, where nearly 2 million construction workers are currently out of work.  By investing in transportation and infrastructure projects, we can get people back to work and we can upgrade our crumbling infrastructure.

“The Department of Transportation estimates that the annual cost of maintaining the highway system at its present capabilities is 12 percent more than the federal government is currently spending.  For mass transit, the gap is 25 percent.  Obviously, the tough economic times we are currently facing will make finding additional funding a significant challenge.  However, we must find the money because our transportation infrastructure is the backbone of our economy.

“Our hope is that the Recovery Act money will be used wisely and well.  I also hope that the surface transportation bill that this Committee will soon take up will address this shortfall, and get more people working soon.”