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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 25, 2008
CONTACT:  David Simon
(202) 225-0123
 
 
Congresswoman Corrine Brown Discusses Future Congressional Stimulus Plan's Benefits for Florida
 

(Washington, DC) - Congresswoman Corrine Brown made the following statement:

"From what I have read and studied thus far, I am extremely impressed with the incoming administration's economic plan, particularly their plans for a stimulus recovery package as a first order of business. In the Democratic Party's weekly radio address, incoming President Obama said he would ‘direct his economic team to craft a two-year stimulus plan, with the goal of saving or creating 2.5 million jobs,' and that he hopes to sign the stimulus package into law soon after taking office on January 20th.    Just yesterday during his address in fact, future President Obama declared that 'America is in a vicious cycle,' and indicated that his advisors would begin to work immediately toward passage of a stimulus package to 'jolt the faltering economy back into shape.'

As an integral part of the new administration’s economic plan, President elect Obama intends to ‘address neglected public infrastructure projects like roads and schools.’ I strongly believe that this is a step in the right direction.  In fact, as the subcommittee Chairwoman of the Railroads, Pipelines and Hazardous Materials subcommittee of the Committee on Transportation, I have been advocating for rail and infrastructure funding to be included in any economic stimulus package.  Transportation and Infrastructure funding is absolutely critical to any economic recovery package, and would be a tremendous economic and job creating boost for our nation at this time.  Individual states benefit by receiving an improved transportation infrastructure, which in turn creates economic development and puts people to work.  In fact, Department of Transportation (DOT) statistics show that for every $1 billion invested in transportation infrastructure, 42,000 jobs are created, as is $2.1 billion in economic activity.

For the state of Florida, the most recent transportation committee stimulus proposal would allocate significant funding increases in various areas, and if distributed strictly through formula funding, Florida would receive approximately $1.5 billion.  Specifically, the federal government would provide nearly $1 billion for Highways & Bridges in the state; hundreds of thousands of dollars for the state’s Transit Capital & Energy, as well as funding for Clean Water projects.  In fact, Central Florida alone has $200 million in construction-ready road projects where the planning, design and right-of-way phases have been completed.  And according to a study done by the American Association of State Highways and Transportation Officials (AASHTO), Florida has five ready to go projects, totaling $635 million, which could begin construction in 90 days or less.

Moreover, next year Congress will begin the six year transportation reauthorization bill (TEA-LU), which will also provide numerous funding opportunities for Central Florida.  Some of the projects which will be included in the reauthorization that will directly benefit the Central Florida area include:  the necessary ancillary infrastructure needs for all phases of the Central Florida Commuter Rail line, increased funding for LYNX buses, ‘six –laning’ road projects in Orange County, ‘four-laning’ projects in Osceola and Seminole Counties, and other area I-4 reliever projects throughout Central Florida.

Lastly, as the Rail subcommittee Chair, I wholeheartedly believe that upgrading our nation’s rail system will serve to propel our nation forward in a dramatic way.  I am proud to have been a major proponent of inserting approximately half a billion dollars in Amtrak funding into the Transportation Committee’s stimulus package.  In the past century, our nation advanced by building up our highways, and I believe it is time we direct our energy towards augmenting our train system for the future.  Indeed, expanding Amtrak service would create additional transportation options for our citizens, and would be an alternative to gas guzzling vehicles and building more crowded highway lanes.  For Central Florida, commuter rail would serve to alleviate the tremendous amount of congestion Central Florida drivers face daily on our highways, particularly in the I-4 corridor and on I-95. Moreover, economic development around the rail lines in Central Florida, and across the nation, will help many of the surrounding communities to flourish."

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