Transportation
Investing in Transportation
Sound investments in transportation keep our economy moving. Every $1 billion we spend on highways and road projects creates 47,000 jobs in our community. As a member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, I was able to secure over $52 million dollars in transportation projects for the Second Congressional District in the Federal Surface Transportation Reauthorization Bill, also known as SAFETEA-LU. These projects will relieve congestion, improve safety and spur economic growth in our communities.
This bill – which was passed by Congress in July 2005 – addressed critical safety needs on our roads, such as improvements on Highway 2, congestion relief for commuters and for the flow of goods at border crossings like Blaine, increased freight mobility and increased annual funding for our ferry system, the largest system in the nation. As we move to reauthorize this legislation in 2009, I will continue working to invest in our transportation infrastructure to keep our families safe and our economy on track.
Pipeline Safety
During my first term in Congress I fought hard for a pipeline safety bill, introducing H.R. 459, the Pipeline Safety Enhancement Act of 2001. H.R. 459 was eventually encompassed into the final version of the Pipeline Safety Improvement Act which was signed into law December 2002.
The Pipeline Inspection, Protection, Enforcement and Safety Act of 2006 updated the 2002 law. I included an amendment to reauthorize the technical assistance grants for Pipeline Safety Information. These grants encourage the involvement of local communities by granting up to $50,000 for technical assistance grants for local communities to help ensure the safety of pipeline facilities. Working together with families, advocates in the community, and my colleagues on both sides of the aisle, I will continue to work on improving pipeline safety in our country.
