Washington, D.C.—The following are opening remarks, as prepared for delivery, from Ranking Member of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure Rick Larsen (D-WA) during today’s hearing titled, “America Builds: The State of the Nation’s Transportation System.”
Video of Ranking Member Larsen’s opening statement is here.
More information on the hearing can be found here.
Ranking Member Larsen:
Thank you, Chairman Graves, for holding this hearing to kick off our infrastructure work in the 119th Congress.
This Committee has a great story to tell. Thanks to historic levels of federal investment, the nation’s transportation system is much better off today than it was four years ago.
Let’s go through the numbers that lead me to that conclusion.
Federal investment is improving infrastructure. In 2024, the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) found that infrastructure dollars Congress provided in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) “halted the rapid growth of the infrastructure investment gap.”
These bold, long-term investments are delivering nearly $600 in savings each year for American families, according to the ASCE.
For decades, ASCE analysis had shown a steady decline in infrastructure. Chronic underinvestment meant that roads, bridges, airports, ports, waterways, public transit and rail were aging, becoming less reliable, less safe, costing commuters and businesses money and hurting economic competitiveness.
Congress responded in 2021 and passed the BIL with overwhelming support from states, local governments and Tribal governments, transit agencies, railroads, airports and ports to provide a much-needed boost to our transportation system.
Federal investment means America is building, right now.
BIL funds have supported over 85,000 new transportation projects in every Congressional district according to the American Road and Transportation Builders Association.
These projects are largely selected and controlled by state and local transportation officials, transit agencies, passenger railroads and ports in each of our districts. For example, over 90 percent of BIL highway and bridge dollars go out by formula, including about $6 billion to my own state of Washington and about $5 billion to the state of Louisiana—we are going to hear from the Governor in a moment on that.
Congress designated a much smaller portion of BIL funds to be distributed via competitive grants. U.S. DOT continues to award projects to get BIL dollars into communities in our districts as quickly as possible.
Just this month, DOT announced $5 billion for more than 560 transportation projects in every state. These announcements benefit all of our constituents. They fund projects important to Members of Congress, governors, mayors and state legislators—Republicans and Democrats alike.
In my district, the City of Everett was awarded an $18 million BIL-funded Railroad Crossing Elimination grant to improve safety and eliminate two existing at-grade highway-rail crossings near the Smith Island rail terminal, which will help industrial development.
We have quite a bit of work ahead of us. But, but you should know, Congress, your investment is creating jobs. Project funding consistently flowing across the country means industry stability and jobs. BIL dollars support jobs that cannot be outsourced, jobs with good wages, benefits and working conditions.
These are private sector jobs in the construction, engineering, transit, trucking, aviation, rail and maritime sectors.
The latest jobs report showed the 47th consecutive month of job growth, more than 16.6 million jobs added since 2021 and unemployment down to 4.1 percent—is evidence that these investments are working, and the economy is on the move.
The BIL provides substantial flexibility to states and local governments to invest in priorities each community determines. Within that flexibility, dedicated and robust investment helps solve high priority challenges important to each and every one of you and your constituents.
Federal investment keeps goods moving. Congress, your funding is tackling the biggest surface transportation bottlenecks with $7 billion in dedicated formula funds; investing more than $40 billion in bridge repair and replacement to make sure new bottlenecks don’t form; and helping ports move cargo more efficiently, cleanly and competitively with over $2 billion in Port Infrastructure Development grants. These investments should continue. Let’s keep it going.
Congress, your investment is improving safety. More than 40,000 people die in motor vehicle crashes every single year, amounting to a safety crisis.
The BIL took a major step forward in safety by boosting Highway Safety Improvement program funding to states and by providing direct funding to cities, counties and rural communities to save lives.
Investments including Safe Streets and Roads for All grants empower communities to plan and execute projects to safely improve mobility in ways that reflect local realities. These investments should continue. Let’s keep it going.
Congress, your investment is expanding cleaner, greener mobility options. Landmark investment available in the BIL for rail, transit and electric vehicle infrastructure means communities can build mobility solutions that reflect state and local needs and priorities. Through advance appropriations, Congress leveled the playing field on funding certainty for rail. These investments should continue. Let’s keep it going.
Congress, your investment is readying the future workforce. The BIL includes over $800 million to train workers for manufacturing jobs, in addition to eligible funding for workforce training available to states through flexible formula funding. These investments should continue. Let’s keep it going.
Keeping our transportation systems in good repair, resilient, safe and ready for future freight and passenger demand requires ongoing investment.
We are ready to make that investment, and I am committed to working with the Chair and the incoming administration to provide the necessary resources to create more jobs, protect the traveling public and to support America’s transportation and construction workers.
I hope all of you can join us in this commitment.
Thank you to our witnesses for being here today. I look forward to the testimony.
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