Transportation
Investing in transportation creates jobs and keeps our economy moving. Every $1 billion we spend on highways and road projects creates 34,800 jobs per year in our community. As a member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, I strongly support investing in transportation to relieve congestion, improve safety and spur economic growth in our communities. Businesses need to be able to trust in reliable access to markets and citizens need to be assured of their safety during daily travel. I am continuing to push for a long-term, multi-year reauthorization that meets the needs our industries and economy face.
I am honored to have been selected by my colleagues to be the Ranking Member, the most senior Democratic member, of the Aviation Subcommittee. The work of the Subcommittee is critical to jobs and the economy in Washington state and the Second District. The Pacific Northwest is the aerospace capital of the world, and I will work hard to make sure the United States invests in our aviation future. Aviation manufacturing is a powerful economic engine, and it means jobs in Northwest Washington. I will continue to support the growth and safety of our country’s aviation industry.
Check out my YouTube channel on transportation.
Accomplishments
Roads, Bridges, Highways and Transit
- Introduced TIGER CUBS legislation to allow cities like Mountlake Terrace to compete for federal transportation funding on a level playing field.
- Cosponsored a bill to provide $5.5 billion to repair structurally deficient bridges across the country.
- Following the Skagit River Bridge collapse, worked with officials at all levels of government to expedite bridge repairs to keep people and commerce moving along the I-5 corridor.
- Supported efforts over a decade to rehabilitate the Mukilteo Ferry Terminal, leading to quicker ferry loading times, better links to light rail, and increased safety for pedestrians.
- Championed funding increases for Washington state’s ferry program in the recent transportation reauthorization through legislation that would foster investment in ferries, and sent letters of support for ferry funding to the Chairman and Ranking Member of the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
- Supported federal transportation grant applications by Island Transit and Sound Transit to expand service.
Aviation
- Pushed to secure the 777X facility in Snohomish County, protecting thousands of jobs and creating thousands more.
- Championed new pilot safety training rules to make sure that travelers are safe and pilots are trained to the highest level before getting in the cockpit.
- Worked on a bipartisan basis to improve FAA’s implementation of NextGen air traffic management, which will result in increased efficiency, shorter flights, and decrease emissions and fuel usage.
- Introduced the first legislation to address climate pollution from aircraft.
Ports and Maritime
- Led the charge to support WRDDA Section 214, which allows ports in the Northwest to expedite water infrastructure projects.
- Worked on a bipartisan basis to pass the Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Act of 2012. Worked with Rep. Frank LoBiondo (R-NJ) to pass a bipartisan bill to fund and authorize the activities of the United States Coast Guard. This bill also includes marine debris cleanup, and protections for the Coast Guard’s icebreaker fleet. Shipbuilding authorizations in the bill will lead to jobs at shipyards in Washington state.
- Cosponsored legislation to make maritime training programs affordable for all students by allowing students at maritime training institutions to take out student loans and creating maritime training institution scholarships. The Maritime Workforce Development Act passed the House of Representatives.
- Supported small shipyards like Dakota Creek Industries in Anacortes by championing grants to help increase productivity and create jobs.
Energy Transportation
- Led the Washington state delegation in pushing for new rules to improve the safety standards for rail cars carrying crude oil.
- Fought hard to pass a bill to strengthen our pipeline safety regulations after a deadly pipeline explosion occurred in Bellingham in 2002, and passed updates to strengthen the 2006 bill in 2006 and 2011.