Rep. Lofgren & CA Democratic Members Sound Alarm on Disastrous Republican Transportation Bill

Washington, DC – Today members of the California Democratic Congressional Delegation, led by Rep. Zoe Lofgren (D-CA), released the following letter to House Speaker John Boehner and Rep. John Mica, Chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, opposing H.R. 7, the American Energy and Infrastructure Act. The letter, signed by 32 members of the delegation, warns the bill "will hurt California's fragile economy" by cutting highway funding, blocking high-speed rail development and allowing oil drilling off the state's shoreline.

Among the proposals H.R. 7 makes which will hurt Californians, job creation and economic growth:

  • Cuts $724.5 million over 5 years to highway, transit and rail investments in California.
  • Delays until the year 2020 safety measures designed to automatically prevent train collisions and derailment required in the wake of the catastrophic 2008 Southern California Metrolink accident, including on rail lines upon which toxic hazardous materials are transported.
  • Imposes a 25% cut to Amtrak, which will impact California since it is home to 3 of the top 5 busiest corridors in the U.S.
  • Opens up off shore oil and shale drilling, putting California's shoreline and economy at risk by disingenuously claiming it will fund transportation needs, despite a National Resources Defense Council (NRDC) estimate the move will likely only produce 1% of the funding projected.
  • Prohibits any funds for developing high-speed rail in California, despite major ongoing investments including a voter approved $9 billion bond. With travel on California interstates increasing five times faster than capacity, killing the project would cost $114 billion over the next 20 years for 2,300 new miles of highway, 115 additional airport gates, and 4 new airport runways to make up the lost capacity.

Click here to link to the letter.

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