U.S. Chamber Commends Senate Passage of Critical Transportation Funding

WASHINGTON, DC-The U.S. Chamber of Commerce today praised Senate passage of critical funding increases to maintain and improve the nation's transportation infrastructure.

"Our highways and transit systems are critical cogs in the nation's economic machine, but many are in need of improvements and upgrades," said Bruce Josten, Chamber executive vice president for Government Affairs. "These funding increases are an investment in America's future, and we applaud the Senate for showing its commitment to an efficient, reliable, and safe transportation network."

The Senate action ensures that federal funding for transportation infrastructure programs will not be scaled back in fiscal year 2007. Without Congressional action, federal funding would have remained at 2006 spending levels-roughly $3.8 billion less than what states were counting on from the federal government to help offset the costs of much-needed highway and bridge maintenance and urban and rural transit improvements.

Ninety percent of the goods made or shipped in the United States travel on the interstate highway system, but at least 160,000 miles of roads in that system currently require reconstruction or upgrades and more than a quarter of the nation's bridges are structurally deficient. Similarly, while more than 14 million Americans rely on the nation's 6,000-plus public transit systems to commute to work and school and get to other destinations, those systems are not equipped for long term demographic and population changes that will increase demand in the near future.

The Chamber and its affiliate coalition, Americans for Transportation Mobility, are vocal proponents of continued investments in the nation's transportation infrastructure, arguing that safer, less congested roads and transit lines contribute to broader economic prosperity and job growth and a cleaner environment.

The U.S. Chamber is the world's largest business federation, representing more than three million businesses of every size, sector and region.

www.uschamber.com

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