2.11.2009 Letter to Conferees on H.R. 1

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February 11, 2009

 

TO THE MEMBERS OF THE UNITED STATES CONGRESS:

 The Americans for Transportation Mobility (ATM) Coalition strongly supports the transportation investment provisions in H.R. 1, the “American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009,” and urges you to at least maintain the House-provided funding levels for highways and public transportation.  Investing in America’s transportation infrastructure will create jobs in the short term and reinforce the economy’s physical platform in the long term and should be a critical element of economic recovery efforts.
 
 The investments in near-term transportation projects supported by this legislation would protect and create jobs to support broad recovery and address particularly hard hit sectors like construction.  Transportation spending also results in long-term economic benefits: transportation infrastructure plays a critical role supporting America’s economy by facilitating the safe, efficient, and reliable movement of people and goods.

While the economic recovery legislation is a vital step to shore up the ailing economy, it is also imperative the federal government look to infrastructure planning and investment as a way to facilitate long-term economic recovery and competiveness.  Congress will need to complete its work later this year by providing the policy and programmatic reforms, as well as long-term funding needed for highways and public transportation, by passing long-term transportation legislation with increased and improved investment.

The Coalition strongly supports House and Senate efforts to reconcile and pass H.R. 1 and looks forward to working with Congress on the longer-term transportation agenda to ensure the U.S. transportation system is modernized, maintained, and expanded to support the recovering economy.


Sincerely,

Americans for Transportation Mobility

 

ATM Management Committee Members
American Public Transportation Association • American Road and Transportation Builders Association • Associated Equipment Distributors • Association of Equipment Manufacturers • Associated General Contractors •  American Society of Civil Engineers •  International Union of Operating Engineers • Laborers International Union of North America • National Asphalt Pavement Association  • National Stone, Sand, and Gravel Association • United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America • U.S. Chamber of Commerce