U.S. Rep. Peter DeFazio (D-OR), chair of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, joined virtual roundtables hosted by committee members and their local transportation leaders over the last two weeks to discuss the importance of investing in the country’s infrastructure.
DeFazio and the committee members discussed how the transformational investments proposed by President Joe Biden in his American Jobs Plan would create good-paying jobs and take steps to fight the climate crisis. DeFazio heard from state Department of Transportation officials and other local transportation leaders from Massachusetts, Maryland, Hawaii, Illinois, Pennsylvania, and Georgia.
“My Committee and its Members are wasting no time in taking President Biden’s American Jobs Plan and turning it into action by working with local leaders throughout the nation to discuss how transformational investments in our infrastructure and transportation systems can be the cornerstone for our long-term economic recovery,” DeFazio said. “For far too long, the U.S. has failed to act boldly to move our infrastructure out of the Eisenhower era, to the detriment of our economy, our climate, and our quality of life. With President Biden in the White House, we have an incredible opportunity to finally deliver for the American people, and I look forward to partnering with my congressional colleagues, local leaders, and communities big and small to pass a transformational bill. Investing in our infrastructure can’t wait.”
The committee will hold a Members’ Day hearing on April 14 to provide a forum for non-committee members to discuss their infrastructure priorities.