U.S. Chamber Commends Surface Transportation and Aviation Programs Passage

‘Congress Must Now Focus on a Multi-Year Transportation Bill,’ Kavinoky Says

WASHINGTON, D.C.—U.S. Chamber of Commerce Executive Director of Transportation and Infrastructure, Janet Kavinoky, issued the following statement today following passage of the surface transportation and aviation programs extension:

“The U.S. Chamber of Commerce commends Congress for passing extensions for expiring federal aviation, highway and transit programs, and for recognizing the importance of extending surface transportation and aviation programs at current funding levels in order to sustain jobs. By putting forth clean extensions that continue obligations at current levels, states and other project sponsors can move forward on projects and keep people working.

“It is past time for Congress to complete FAA reauthorization. The U.S. aviation system, including its air traffic control system and airports, must transform to meet the expected 36 percent increase in fliers by 2015. Improving and modernizing the air traffic control system to increase aviation system capacity and efficiency must be a national priority. America’s airport infrastructure is important to U.S. economic productivity and competitiveness, and enables local and regional economic development.

“Congress must also focus on passing a multi-year surface transportation bill that does two things: reforms highway and transit policy and programs, and provides the necessary resources to maintain investment in highways, public transportation, and safety. Surface reauthorization can give states the long-term funding certainty to sustain hundreds of thousands of private sector jobs in the short term. In the long term, and with the proper reforms it can be a catalyst to seeding private investment in our infrastructure which will lead to the creation of thousands of additional jobs.

“Absent passage of multi-year reauthorizations there will be continued uncertainty and erratic funding for critical infrastructure investments, and the public and private sectors will continue to respond by delaying projects, withdrawing investment, and laying off employees.

“The Chamber pledges to work with Congress and the administration to advance these multi-year transportation measures to support jobs and economic competitiveness, as was called for in the Chamber’s jobs plan.”

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.