STOCKTON, CA. — Today, at the Port of Stockton, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce hosted Rep. Josh Harder (CA-09), local business leaders, and community stakeholders for an event to highlight Central Valley transportation and infrastructure investment priorities and build momentum for federal surface transportation reauthorization and permitting reform.
The event—part of the Chamber’s regional infrastructure tour, Keep America Moving initiative, and permitting reform advocacy—underscored the importance of predictable, long-term federal funding and a more efficient permitting process to modernize infrastructure, strengthen freight movement, and support economic growth in California’s Central Valley and across the country.
“Stockton is a city that thrives on infrastructure, wedged between two major highways with 100,000 residents that commute to the Bay every single day, as well as the Port that is the economic heart of our community,” said Rep. Harder. “We’re one of the fastest growing counties in the state, but right now it’s way too difficult to build new infrastructure because the permitting process takes years and even decades to complete. Securing reliable, long-term funding and a predictable, transparent regulatory process will keep goods moving, support good-paying jobs, and strengthen local communities. I’m grateful for the U.S. Chamber and our local business leaders’ efforts to bring our community together around these priorities, and I look forward to passing these common sense solutions in Washington.”
The Port of Stockton plays a vital role in California’s freight network, supporting thousands of jobs and serving as a key gateway for agricultural products, energy supplies, and manufactured goods critical to the Central Valley economy.
“Permitting delays remain one of the biggest barriers to delivering the infrastructure projects communities desperately need, and a growing bipartisan coalition in Congress is rightly focused on fixing a system that is outdated, inefficient, and costly,” said Christopher Guith, senior vice president of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Global Energy Institute. “Congressman Harder’s leadership on the FREEDOM Act is an important step forward, helping streamline reviews, provide greater certainty for project delivery, and remove unnecessary obstacles that delay investment. As Congress considers reauthorizing federal surface transportation programs this year, long-term funding certainty paired with a predictable permitting process will be essential to delivering a robust highway bill that strengthens local economies, supports workers, and keeps America competitive.”
Keep America Moving is a U.S. Chamber initiative that builds support for federal surface transportation reauthorization—set to expire on September 30, 2026—by convening events in congressional districts nationwide and engaging policymakers in Washington.
