U.S. Chamber President Calls for Passage of Strong Highway and Public Transportation Proposal

In Senate Testimony, Donohue Says ‘Public and Private Investment is Critical for Long-Term Economic Prosperity’

WASHINGTON, D.C.—While testifying before the Senate today, U.S. Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Thomas J. Donohue urged members to set aside their ideological and partisan differences and unite behind policies that rebuild our nation’s crumbling infrastructure system, the physical platform that supports our economy.

“America astounded the world in the 20th century by building the most advanced, extensive, and efficient transportation system,” Donohue said in testimony before the U.S. Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works today. “It fueled our economic growth, expanded our horizons, and made us the envy of the world. At a time when many of our citizens—and our competitors—believe that America is falling behind…that it can no longer compete...that it has lost its capacity to achieve great things. I say it is time to astound the world again with our ingenuity, ambition, and dreams. Sufficient, smart, and judicious investment in infrastructure is where it all begins. The sooner we start, the better. We don’t have a moment to lose.”

The U.S. Chamber has long supported the reauthorization of SAFETEA-LU. Donohue’s testimony outlined a set of recommendations that describe high-level objectives the business community deems necessary for a successful bill:

• The bill’s “guiding star” must always be safety.
• Ensure federal transportation policy, programs, and resources are oriented around national needs.
• Adopt strategies and technologies that will reduce congestion, improve mobility in urban areas, and maximize the use of existing assets.
• Help ensure rural connectivity.
• Develop a comprehensive freight program to ensure adequate capacity, reduce congestion, and increase throughput at key highway, rail, waterway, and intermodal choke points.
• Maximize the use of existing infrastructure and speed project delivery for new infrastructure.

On the issue of funding, Donohue said, “There needs to be a vigorous dialogue on funding and financing, but first we have to agree on the direction we’re going. Everyone needs to keep an open mind. I am well aware of the fiscal constraints facing this Congress and the nation. But we must avoid cutting off our nose to spite our face. Without proper investment and attention to our infrastructure, the United States’ economic stability, potential for job growth, global competitiveness, and quality of life are all at risk.”

Last year, the Chamber released the first-ever nationwide and state-by-state Transportation Performance Indexes which showed a significant decline over the last five years in how America’s transportation infrastructure is serving the needs of domestic commerce, international trade, and the overall U.S. economy. The annual index was the first to ever establish a direct link between the performance of our transportation infrastructure and economic growth.

“Public and private investment in the economic foundation of the U.S. is critical for long-term economic prosperity,” continued Donohue. “If we embrace the status quo and fail to make needed investments, the future will be grim. The Chamber and its Americans for Transportation Mobility Coalition are ready to work with Congress, with the AFL-CIO, and anyone else to move forward with investing in America’s economy.”

Donohue’s complete testimony is available at:
http://www.uschamber.com/issues/testimony/2011/testimony-reauthorization-safetea-lu

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is the world’s largest business federation representing the interests of more than 3 million businesses of all sizes, sectors, and regions, as well as state and local chambers and industry associations.

# # #