In The News

Work on road bill, not trade agenda, 4 Democrats tell Obama

WASHINGTON — Rep. Tim Ryan, D-Ohio, and three colleagues in the House Monday sent a letter to President Barack Obama urging the president to focus on passing a multi-year highway bill before pushing his trade agenda.

Joining Ryan on the letter were Rep. Peter DeFazio, D-Ore., ranking member on the House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee; Rep. Rosa DeLauro, D-Conn., ranking member of the Labor, Health, Human Services and Education Appropriations Subcommittee; and Rep. Louise Slaughter, D-N.Y., ranking member of the House Committee on Rules.

“There are 70,000 bridges in the United States that are considered to be structurally deficient,” Ryan said in a statement issued by his office. “This is an opportunity to put hundreds of thousands of Americans back to work to improve our country’s infrastructure. There is no doubt it will cost more if we wait. This should be President Obama’s priority — and needs to be completed instead of a controversial and damaging trade agreement.”

The letter went straight to the point in its opening sentence.

“We believe it is imperative for you to focus your efforts on passing a long overdue surface transportation bill before turning your attention to a controversial trade agenda that divides Congress,” the four Democrats wrote. “America requires a robust transportation infrastructure to compete in the global economy. Around the country our crumbling roads, bridges, railroads and sewer systems urgently need improvements and repairs. India and China spend 7 to 9 percent of their GDP on infrastructure. We spend approximately 2 percent. If we want to remain the world’s leader in innovation, we need a safe and efficient surface transportation network in the United States.

The letter pointed Obama back to the president’s State of the Union address delivered Jan. 20:

“As you said in your State of the Union address, ‘21st Century businesses need 21st Century infrastructure — modern ports and stronger bridges, faster trains and the fastest Internet…Let’s pass a bipartisan infrastructure plan that could create more than 30 times as many jobs per year, and make this country stronger for decades to come.’ We agree, Mr. President.”

The Congressmen reminded the president that both the United States Chamber of Commerce and several unions support a new surface transportation bill.

“We believe you need to capitalize on the support of both sides and announce that you will not pursue TPP until you have a multi-year surface transportation bill on your desk,” the letter said. “After the potential passage and signing of any trade legislation, we believe the White House loses leverage to get a highway bill finished.”

The current surface transportation legislation, MAP-21, was set to expire Oct. 1, 2014, but Congress passed an extension through May 31, 2015.

The Trucker staff can be reached to comment on this article at [email protected].

www.theTrucker.com