Washington, D.C. – Building our nation’s transportation infrastructure can play a key role in our economic recovery, according to U.S. Rep. John L. Mica (R-FL), the Republican Leader of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee.
Mica and Committee Chairman Oberstar have agreed to conduct a Congressional hearing to review pending and delayed infrastructure projects that can be expedited to boost the lagging economy.
“Projects that are ready to go or are delayed by red tape urgently need to move forward,” Mica said. “Any effort to stimulate the economy should not turn into a big pork barrel measure.
“We should focus on bringing important infrastructure projects online as soon as possible in order to create jobs, boost the economy and rebuild our crumbling highway, bridge, transit, rail, aviation, port and waterway infrastructure. We must strip away the unnecessary bureaucracy of modernizing these aging systems.
“Experts have suggested that as many as 35,000 jobs are created or sustained for every $1 billion we commit to improving our deteriorating infrastructure.
“Transportation is the backbone of our nation’s economic engine. Improving infrastructure will help jumpstart the troubled economy and create thousands of jobs in Florida and across the United States,” Mica concluded.
The Transportation and Infrastructure Committee hearing is scheduled for 9:30 a.m. on October 29, 2008 in 2167 Rayburn House Office Building, Washington, D.C. A live webcast of the hearing will be available at http://republicans.transportation.house.gov/.
The Committee will receive testimony from numerous industry experts and public officials on the need for greater infrastructure investment and the role that investment can play in leading the country out of its economic slump.
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