Republican Initiatives
Committee Republicans support innovative and cost effective ways to improve the nation's infrastructure. Wise utilization of federal resources to provide safe, modern and efficient transportation systems is critical to improving the quality of life for all Americans and strengthening our economy.
Learn more about Republican efforts to address our transportation and infrastructure challenges:
Sitting On Our Assets
A report prepared by the Republican staff of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee identifies hundreds of billions of dollars in potential savings to the taxpayer through improved management of federal assets and the elimination of waste in agencies and programs under the Committee’s jurisdiction. Read More »
Cutting Red Tape: the 437-Day Plan
Red tape and bureaucracy result in years of delay for infrastructure projects across the nation. Expediting the federal project approval process would lead to significant savings and more rapid improvements to our aging and congested infrastructure. The bridge to replace the collapsed I-35 W bridge in Minnesota was contracted to be completed in just 437 days. Committee Republicans believe there is no reason we cannot similarly expedite other projects around the country using a 437-Day plan.
High-Speed Rail
The United States lacks a single true high-speed passenger rail system. Unfortunately, the Obama Administration has focused our limited resources for this promising transportation alternative on too many projects that will not result in true high-speed service, and has failed to involve the private sector. Republicans support focusing our high-speed efforts in critical transportation corridors and ensuring opportunities for private sector participation.
Preventing Expansion of Federal Jurisdiction over Nation's Water
The "America's Commitment to Clean Water Act" represents an unprecedented and historic expansion of federal jurisdiction. While proponents claim the bill simply restores the original scope of the Clean Water Act, it would in fact lead to the regulation of every wet area in the country, preempt state and local governments from making many local water and land use decisions, result in endless, costly litigation, and adversely impact the nation's economy.
Improving Transit Safety
Republicans support strengthening federal standards for transit safety, more enforcement and oversight of those standards, and ensuring that transit agencies have the proper resources, staffing levels and authorities to oversee transit safety. However, creating a large bureaucracy and putting safety in the hands of the federal government could actually weaken the safety of the nation’s transit systems.
Eliminating Waste in FEMA Housing
Republicans have urged FEMA to eliminate waste and dispose of surplus emergency housing trailers it did not intend to use but was spending $100,000,000 per year to store.
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