April 11, 2019
The Honorable Peter DeFazio
Chairman
Committee on Transportation & Infrastructure
United States House of Representatives
The Honorable Richard Neal
Chairman
Committee on Ways & Means
United States House of Representatives
Chairmen DeFazio and Neal:
Thank you for your commitment to addressing the growing national crisis caused by our country’s decaying infrastructure. We commend you for holding meaningful hearings to shine a light on the negative impact that chronic underinvestment in infrastructure is having on our economy and the safety of the motoring public. The time is now to move forward on much overdue infrastructure modernization.
If the United States is to continue to be that “shining city on a hill” in this century – that beacon of hope and opportunity around the world for anyone who aspires for a better life – then the roads, bridges and transit systems into that city cannot be marked with potholes, collapsing bridges and failing track. America’s economic and social strength throughout the 20th century was driven by investments in infrastructure
championed by Presidents Roosevelt, Eisenhower and Reagan. However, that leadership position is now threatened by inaction on the much-needed modernization of an infrastructure network essential to continue our nation’s global dominance.
The undersigned associations and organizations, representing the men and women of both American business and labor, urge you to act on the immediate need to fix our nation’s crumbling infrastructure. We stand prepared to work side-by side with Congress and the Administration to get this much needed job done.
We urge you to move forward and take bold action now; waiting is not an option. We urge you to look to the 35 state legislatures and governors who have shown it is not only possible to fund infrastructure, but it is a winning political issue. As you continue down this legislative process, we support these core basic principles for the infrastructure legislation you are developing:
- It must address the current crisis and invest in the future;
- It must be funded with real money, not gimmicks;
- It must provide the vision and the bridge to ensure that transportation in five, 10 or 20 years has an appropriate system of user fees and funding that matches the vehicles and society of that future;
- It must provide resiliency of our transportation networks; and
- It must support the jobs of today and the future with funding and programs to match.
The last President to increase the federal user fee on fuel was Bill Clinton, and the last to directly appeal to the country to fund infrastructure was Ronald Reagan. We call on you now to show that same political courage and offer you the strong support of our organizations and the millions of Americans who are depending on you.
Sincerely,
National Organizations
AFL-CIO
Agriculture & Food Transporters Conference
American Apparel & Footwear Association
American Association of Port Authorities
American Council of Engineering Companies
American Iron and Steel Institute
American Public Transportation Association
American Road & Transportation Builders Association
American Society of Civil Engineers
American Trucking Associations
Associated Equipment Distributors
Associated General Contractors
Associated Wire Rope Fabricators
Association For Manufacturing Technology
Association of Equipment Manufacturers
Association of Metropolitan Planning Organizations
Automobile Carriers Conference
CCIM Institute
Coalition for America’s Gateways and Trade Corridors
Government Freight Conference
Intermodal Association of North America
Intermodal Motor Carriers Conference
International Union of Operating Engineers
International Warehouse Logistics Association
Laborers International Union of North America
National Asphalt Pavement Association
National Association of Counties
National Association of County Engineers
National Association of Manufacturers
National Association of Surety Bond Producers
National Association of Trailer Manufacturers
National Lime Association
National Retail Federation
National Stone, Sand and Gravel Association
National Tank Truck Carriers
Owner Operator Independent Drivers Association
Retail Industry Leaders Association
The Toy Association
United Fresh Produce Association
United States Chamber of Commerce
State and Local Organizations
Alabama Trucking Association, Inc.
Alaska Trucking Association, Inc.
Ames Chamber of Commerce
AR State Chamber/AIA
Arizona Chamber of Commerce and Industry
Arizona Trucking Association
Arkansas Trucking Association
Association of Washington Business
Auburn Chamber of Commerce
Baton Rouge Area Chamber
Baytown Chamber of Commerce
Billings Chamber of Commerce
Boise Metro Chamber
Brewster Chamber of Commerce, Inc.
Buckeye Valley Chamber of Commerce
Buffalo Niagara Partnership
California Association of Boutique & Breakfast Inns
California Hotel & Lodging Association
California Trucking Association
Cape Cod Canal Region Chamber
Cape Cod Canal Region Chamber
Cape Cod Chamber of Commerce
Cape Girardeau Area Chamber of Commerce
Capital Region Chamber
Carson City Chamber of Commerce
Cedar Rapids Metro Economic Alliance
Central Maryland Chamber
Chamber of Commerce of West Alabama
Chamber Southwest Louisiana
Chandler Chamber of Commerce
Chattanooga Chamber of Commerce
Chemung County Chamber of Commerce
Chester county chamber
Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber
Cleveland-Bolivar County Chamber of Commerce
Coeur d Alene Chamber of Commerce
Colorado Motor Carriers Association
Delaware Motor Transport Assoc. Inc.
Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce
Dooly County Chamber of Commerce
Dothan Area Chamber of Commerce
Eastham Chamber of Commerce
Edwardsville/Glen Carbon Chamber of Commerce
Falmouth Chamber of Commerce
Florida Chamber of Commerce
Florida Trucking Association, Inc.
Fort Bend Chamber
Forward Janesville, Inc.
Fredericksburg Regional Chamber of Commerce
Gateway Regional Chamber of Commerce
Georgia Motor Trucking Association, Inc.
Glendale Chamber of Commerce
Glendora Chamber Legislative Action Committee
Granbury Chamber of Commerce
Greater Austin Chamber of Commerce
Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce
Greater Cheyenne Chamber of Commerce
Greater Conejo Valley Chamber of Commerce
Greater Des Moines Partnership
Greater Green Bay Chamber
Greater Houston Partnership
Greater Irving-Las Colinas Chamber of Commerce
Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce
Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce
Greater Louisville Inc.
Greater Oklahoma City Chamber
Greater Phoenix Chamber of Commerce
Greater Pittsburgh Chamber of Commerce
Greater Rochester Chamber of Commerce
Greater Springfield Chamber of Commerce
Greater Tampa Chamber of Commerce
Greater Topeka Chamber of Commerce
Greeley Area Chamber of Commerce
Hanover Area Chamber of Commerce
Harwich Chamber of Commerce
Helena Area Chamber of Commerce
Henderson County Chamber of Commerce
Hilton Head Island-Bluffton Chamber of Commerce
Hotel Association of Los Angeles
Hyannis Chamber of Commerce
Idaho Trucking Association
Illinois Trucking Association, Inc.
Indiana Chamber of Commerce
Indiana Motor Truck Association, Inc.
Iowa Motor Truck Association, Inc.
Jackson County Area Chamber of Commerce
Johnson City/Jonesborough/Washington County CoC
Kalispell Chamber of Commerce
Kansas Motor Carriers Association
Kentucky Chamber of Commerce
Kentucky Trucking Association, Inc
La Pine Chamber of Commerce
Lake Havasu Area Chamber of Commerce
Lake Houston Area Chamber of Commerce
Lee’s Summit Chamber of Commerce
Little Rock Regional Chamber of Commerce
Livermore Valley Chamber of Commerce
Long Beach Hospitality Alliance
Longview TX Chamber of Commerce
Loudoun County Chamber of Commerce
Louisiana Motor Transport Association, Inc.
Lubbock Chamber of Commerce
Maine Motor Transport Association, Inc.
Maryland Chamber of Commerce
Maryland Motor Truck Association, Inc.
Mashpee Chamber of commerce
Mason City Chamber of Commerce
McLean County Chamber of Commerce
Meridian Chamber of Commerce
Metro South Chamber of Commerce
Michigan Chamber of Commerce
Michigan Trucking Association, Inc.
Minnesota Trucking Association
Mississippi Trucking Association
Missouri Chamber of Commerce and Industry
Missouri Trucking Association
Mobile Area Chamber of Commerce
Monroe Chamber of Commerce
Motor Carriers of Montana
Motor Transport Association of CT, Inc.
Naperville Area Chamber of Commerce
NC Chamber
Nebraska Trucking Association
Neponset River Regional Chamber
Nevada Trucking Association, Inc.
New Jersey Motor Truck Association
New Mexico Trucking Association
Newark Regional Business Partnership
Newport County Chamber of Commerce
North Carolina Trucking Assoc., Inc.
North Central Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce
North Country Chamber of Commerce
North Dakota Motor Carriers Assoc., Inc.
North Texas Commission
Northern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce
Northern RI Chamber of Commerce
Northern Virginia Chamber of Commerce
Ohio Trucking Association
Oklahoma Trucking Association
Orange County Business Council
Orange County Business Council
Oregon Trucking Associations, Inc.
Orleans Chamber of Commerce
Oshkosh Chamber of Commerce
PA Chamber of Business & Industry
PA Chamber of Business & Industry
Pasadena Chamber of Commerce
Pennsylvania Motor Truck Association
Peoria Area Chamber of Commerce
Pocatello-Chubbuck Chamber of Commerce
Portland Business Alliance
Prattville Area Chamber of Commerce
Queen Creek Chamber of Commerce
Rhode Island Trucking Association, Inc.
Rio Grande Valley Partnership
River Region Chamber of Commerce
Rogers Lowell Area Chamber of Commerce
Roseburg Area Chamber of Commerce
San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce
San Gabriel Valley Economic Partnership
San Ysidro Chamber of Commerce
Sandy Area Chamber of Commerce
Schuylkill Chamber of Commerce
Sherman Chamber of Commerce
Silver City Grant County Chamber of Commerce
South Bend Regional Chamber
South Carolina Trucking Assoc., Inc.
South Dakota Trucking Association
South Padre Island Chamber of Commerce
South Coast Chamber
Southwest Indiana Chamber of Commerce
St. Joseph Chamber of Commerce
St. Louis Regional Chamber
State Chamber of Oklahoma
Sweet Grass County Chamber of Commerce
Tacoma-Pierce County Chamber
Tampa Bay Beaches Chamber of Commerce
Tennessee Trucking Association
Texas Trucking Association
The Business Council of Westchester
The Chamber of Medford/Jackson County
The Chamber of Medford/Jackson County
The Colorado Chamber of Commerce
The Greater Cranston Chamber of Commerce
Trucking Association of Massachusetts
Trucking Association of New York
Tucson Metro Chamber
Tucson Metro Chamber
Tulsa Regional Chamber
United Corpus Christi Chamber of Commerce
Utah Trucking Association
Virginia Chamber of Commerce
Virginia Trucking Association
Washington Trucking Associations
West Virginia Chamber of Commerce
West Virginia Trucking Association, Inc.
West Volusia Regional Chamber of Commerce
Wisconsin Motor Carriers Association
Wisconsin Transportation Builders Association
Wyoming Trucking Association, Inc.
Yarmouth Chamber of Commerce
cc: Ranking Member Sam Graves
Ranking Member Kevin Brady
