Transportation
Our roads, bridges, airports, railroads, and waterways serve as the foundation for many jobs and much of our economic activity, so it is essential that we keep our infrastructure in good condition. As a member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, I am working with my colleagues to rebuild our aging infrastructure and reduce existing barriers to expanded commerce.
This year, I was honored to be named Vice Chariman of the Highways and Transit Subcomittee. I have the opportunity to work on legislation that will help the entire state of Wisconsin in this position, which is always a top priority. A strong national infrastructure is the foundation of a strong economy, and I will continue to work on policies that support its upkeep and reliability.
Ribble Named Vice Chair of Highways Subcommittee
Passing a Long-Term Transportation Bill
I have long believed that infrastructure improvements create and support many jobs and are vital to our continued economic growth. In 2011, I led a majority of my Republican colleagues in calling for enactment of a long-term highway bill to provide states and municipalities with the resources needed to maintain our infrastructure.
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Last year, I played an active role in crafting the final MAP-21 highway bill. I served on the bipartisan House-Senate Conference Committee to negotiate a bill that makes historic reforms to our transportation policy while providing Wisconsin municipalities and road builders with much-needed certainty. Importantly, I ensured that Wisconsin would continue to receive its fair share of highway funding.
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I am particularly proud of the work done in the bill to streamline and speed up construction projects. The final bill includes my amendment to reduce the bureaucratic red tape that prevents work on our roads and bridges from being completed in a timely, cost-effective manner. Our language makes great strides in reducing the duplicative permitting requirements that slow down important projects, cutting some project completion times in half and returning more authority to states.
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I also worked in the bill to help keep small transit systems like Green Bay Metro and Valley Transit up and running. The inclusion of the Transit System Flexibility Protection Act in the legislation will ensure that these systems can keep their doors open and continue to offer a vital mode of transportation for many Wisconsin families.
Ribble Helps Deliver for Northeast Wisconsin
Ribble, Petri Cosponsor Bill to Protect Public Transit in WI
Keeping Our Roads Productive
I am continuing to pursue legislation that would preserve the current road weight limits on Highway 41 when it becomes an Interstate in 2014. I am very pleased with the conversion, but it is essential that we adopt legislation to allow Wisconsin farmers and manufacturers to continue to haul their products on this route when the conversion has been completed. This legislation will contribute to economic growth in Northeastern Wisconsin while also keeping our rural roads safe.
Managing Our Harbors and Waterways
The Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund finances the dredging of our ports and harbors, which are vital to sustaining commerce in Northeastern Wisconsin. However, a majority of our harbors are not currently being maintained to their authorized width and depth, leaving billions of dollars in the fund and putting our economic competitiveness at risk.
I have cosponsored the RAMP Act to ensure that all harbor maintenance funds are used for their intended purpose and will advocate for this proposal during consideration of the Water Resources Development Act this year. Failure to reduce sediment in our waterways will increase shipping costs, stifle our potential to export products, and prevent businesses from creating new jobs.
I am also continuing to urge the Army Corps of Engineers to complete work on the Renard Island Combined Disposal Facility project. I am pleased that we may be close to a solution, and will continue to advocate for an expeditious end to the process.
Safeguarding Wisconsin Aviation
Last year, I joined a majority of my colleagues in voting to pass legislation to reauthorize the Federal Aviation Administration for four years and modernize our air traffic control system. I am pleased that we have completed work on this long-awaited bill to significantly improve management of our nation’s airports and skies. Now that this work has been completed, I will continue to represent the needs of Green Bay and Outagamie airports on the Committee.
More recently, I also helped to pass the Reducing Flight Delays Act of 2013, which provided the FAA with much-needed flexibility to manage the sequestration cuts by permitting the agency to shift unspent funds to cover operations and staffing needs. This bill reflects the principles of my Sequestration Flexibility Act to give all department and agency heads greater flexibility to manage their own budget accounts under the sequester.
Law Give Flexibility to FAA to Manage Cuts
Related Links
Ribble Named as Conferee for Transportation Bill
Ribble Amendment Passes House, Helps WI Infrastructure
Reps Reid Ribble and Tom Reed Unite in Support of Long-Term Highway Bill