Key Vote Letter to Congress Supporting H.R. 3 Conference Report

July 28, 2005

To: The U.S. Senate and House of Representatives

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the world's largest business federation representing more than three million businesses of every size, sector and region, urges your support of the conference report for the reauthorization of the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century (H.R. 3). Enactment of this legislation will increase investment in highways and public transportation as well as accelerate project delivery to ensure the nation's transportation demands can be addressed.

The U.S. Chamber appreciates the bipartisan efforts of House and Senate transportation leaders in completing conference committee action. Passage of TEA-21 reauthorization now will provide much-needed investment in our surface transportation system that will help relieve congestion, provide environmental improvements and create well-paying jobs.

With the growing population and amount of freight stressing the nation's transportation system, we must continue to increase transportation infrastructure investments to ensure our future economic growth, international competitiveness, quality of life and national security.

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce strongly urges you to vote for H.R. 3, the TEA-21 reauthorization conference report, and will consider using votes on, or in relation to, this issue for inclusion in our annual "How They Voted" ratings.

Sincerely,

R. Bruce Josten