Transportation
I'm working in Congress to make sure that our state has a voice at the table when important transportation decisions are being made. From highways to airports to railroads and the Mississippi River lock and dam system, we need to do more to invest in infrastructure.
Encouraging Investment in Locks and Dams
Locks and dams along the Mississippi River are critical to ensuring agricultural exports and other goods can be efficiently transported from Iowa to markets around the world. But Congress has neglected these locks and dams for decades – some date to the Great Depression.
That’s why I’m working to pass bipartisan legislation that would explore the creation of public-private partnerships between the Army Corps of Engineers and private entities as financing alternatives for lock and dam capital projects. It’s a creative way to fund lock and dam modernization that won’t add to the deficit and will speed badly needed improvements that will drive economic growth.
Fighting FAA Decision to Close Airport Control Tower in Dubuque
I've strongly opposed the Federal Aviation Administration’s decision to close the air traffic control tower in Dubuque. Before the FAA made the decision to close the tower, I sent a letter to the FAA urging them not to close the tower. After the FAA made its decision, I sent a bipartisan letter to the FAA Administrator demanding they find other cost savings alternatives before closing the Dubuque tower.
Convinced Delta Airlines to Reimburse Military Members for Excessive Baggage Fees
In 2011, I successfully persuaded Delta Airlines to reimburse military members who were charged excessive baggage fees. The military members were returning home from Afghanistan and were unfairly charged $2,800 in excessive baggage fees, and I sent a letter to the Delta CEO urging them to refund the money. Within a week, Delta had refunded the money.
After Flood, Secured Funding to Rebuild Cedar River Rail Bridges in Cedar Rapids and Waterloo
I successfully worked to secured federal disaster funding that was used to replace the Cedar River rail bridges in Cedar Rapids and Waterloo that were damaged in the 2008 floods. These bridges are a vital transportation link connecting farmers and manufacturers to markets.