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October 17,
2002 |
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Key Committee Chairs Urge Higher Funding for
Transportation in FY 2004 Budget Washington, D.C. --
Today six Senators urged President Bush to include higher funding
for the nation's surface transportation system as the Administration
develops its fiscal year 2004 budget, announced U.S. Sen. Jim
Jeffords, I - Vt, Chairman of the Senate Environment and Public
Works Committee.
The President's FY 2004 budget will include proposed six-year
funding levels for the next surface transportation bill. The letter
includes chairmen of key Committees and Subcommittees that will be
involved in the reauthorization of TEA-21, the nation's major
transportation bill.
"It is clear to me following 14 transportation hearings that our
transportation system needs a massive investment of new funds. Next
year's Administration budget will set the tone for reauthorization
of TEA-21. It is imperative that Congress is given the tools to
address our transportation needs," said Jeffords.
Signing the letter were U.S. Sens. Jim Jeffords, I - Vt., Fritz
Hollings, D - SC, Paul Sarbanes, D - Md., Harry Reid, D - Nev., John
Breaux, D - La., and Jack Reed, D - RI.
The following is the text of the letter:
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October 17, 2002
The Honorable George W. Bush
President of the United States
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20500
Dear Mr. President:
The 108th Congress will address reauthorization of the
Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century (TEA-21), which
expires on September 30, 2003. As Chairmen of the Senate Committees
and Subcommittees with jurisdiction over surface transportation
programs for highways, transit and rail, we are in the process of
working cooperatively to ensure that the nation's current and future
surface transportation infrastructure needs are met through this
important legislation.
Our hearings and outreach over the past few years have made one
thing clear - reliable, safe, integrated, and efficient surface
transportation infrastructure is essential to economic growth,
global competitiveness, cleaner air, and a higher quality of life.
In order to accomplish these goals, increased federal investment in
surface transportation infrastructure will be necessary.
As the Department of Transportation's latest Conditions and
Performance Report makes clear, existing funding levels are not
adequate to maintain the current conditions and performance of our
highways, rail and transit systems, much less to improve their
conditions and performance.
Our surface transportation infrastructure is valued at over $3
trillion and was in part made possible by forward-looking leaders
like President Dwight D. Eisenhower, who led the way in creating the
Interstate Highway System and the Highway Trust Fund, and President
John F. Kennedy, who championed the first federal transit program.
It is our responsibility to not only maintain this infrastructure
but to ensure that it is enhanced and ready to meet the challenges
posed by the next generation of Americans.
This issue is extremely important to our national economy. Each
$1 billion invested in surface transportation projects creates
47,500 full time jobs. In addition, an integrated and efficient
transportation system improves national productivity and is crucial
to the ability of U.S. companies to gain access to both domestic and
foreign markets.
American businesses depend on our transportation system which is
why the U.S. Chamber of Commerce sees this transportation bill as
critical to our economy.
In light of these concerns, we urge that you present to the
Congress a budget that will make maintaining and improving our
nation's transportation infrastructure as high a priority as we
intend to make it. Your Administration's 2004 budget request must
include a significant increase in funding over the levels your
Administration requested in FY 2003 in order to maintain and improve
our surface transportation systems.
We also ask that this priority be reflected in your
Administration's proposal for the six-year TEA-21 reauthorization.
Addressing our nation's future transportation needs will take
cooperation, unity, flexibility, and creativity. We intend to reach
out to all Senators in this important effort, and to work closely
with the House of Representatives.
It will also take adequate resources, which we hope you will
consider as an important investment in America's future. We want to
complete a bill with strong, bipartisan support in the Congress and
with active assistance from your Administration.
Thank you for your consideration of this request. We look forward
to working with you and Secretary Mineta throughout the TEA-21
reauthorization process next year.
Sincerely,
Sen. Jim Jeffords
Sen. Harry Reid
Sen. Paul Sarbanes
Sen. Jack Reed
Sen. Fritz Hollings
Sen. John Breaux -- 30 -- |