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October 28,
2002 |
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Jeffords Proposes Transportation/Jobs Package When
Congress Returns Chicago, Illinois --
U.S. Sen. Jim Jeffords, I - Vt., today announced that he will
introduce a proposal when Congress returns after the election in
November to boost transportation funds by $4 billion in an effort to
create jobs and improve the nation's roads and highways. Jeffords
outlined his proposal in Chicago in a speech before the
Transportation Research Board.
Jeffords is the Chairman of the Senate Environment and Public
Works Committee, which has jurisdiction over the nation's highways.
"According the Department of Transportation every billion dollars
we spend on road work leads to a job for 42,000 Americans - and
helps millions more Americans commute safely to and from work every
day. More transportation funding means that States will let
contracts, and contractors will hire more workers. When Congress
returns after the elections, it must do something to stimulate the
economy and create jobs. The American people demand it and this
proposal will deliver it," said Jeffords.
Jeffords' proposal will seek to boost federal highway spending
from the current level of $27.7 billion to $31.8 billion in any
long-term spending plan for 2003.
Jeffords continued, "Going week to week and month to month with
short-term spending plans creates uncertainty at State
transportation agencies across the nation. We must give States and
private contractors a clear sense of program funding levels, so they
can make hiring decisions and get the ball rolling. The nation's
Governors have been clear that the highway program is a key to
economic revitalization at the State level." -- 30 -- |