March 23, 2004

WASHINGTON – After intensive negotiations, the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee will consider and likely approve a $275 billion six-year transportation bill Wednesday. Wisconsin Rep. Tom Petri, Chairman of the Highways, Transit and Pipelines Subcommittee, says the bill will increase safety and help the economy.

"A well-designed, well-maintained transportation system saves lives," he said, noting 42,000 U.S. traffic deaths in 2002. "They estimate one out of three of those 42,000 deaths could have been prevented if our roads were modern and better maintained, better signed and all the rest."

Petri also called the legislation an economic necessity. "A first-rate transportation system is important from an economic efficiency point of view. If we have an inadequate transportation system, it takes longer to get from 'Point A' to 'Point B.' You can't count on how much time it's going to take you. And as a result you have to build in extra time into your schedule. Time is money - it raises the cost of moving goods around our country and it makes our lives less pleasant," he said.

"And of course, we're not alone in the world - we're competing with other countries," he added. "If we have a first- rate transportation system that works efficiently, it lowers the cost of doing business in the United States, makes us more productive, makes us more competitive internationally. And the converse is true as well. If we have an inadequate system, we will be less competitive and tend to slip behind in competition with other countries."