April 09, 2021

ICYMI: Chair DeFazio Joins Committee Members in Virtual Roundtables Across the U.S. to Discuss the Urgent Need for Transformational Infrastructure Investments

During the district work period, House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure Chair Peter DeFazio (D-OR) has been joining virtual roundtables hosted by Members and local transportation leaders to discuss the importance of investing in our nation’s infrastructure.

Springfield, OR – On the heels of the release of the Biden-Harris administration’s American Jobs Plan, and ahead of the committee’s plan to move a surface transportation reauthorization bill next month, Chair of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure Peter DeFazio (D-OR) joined members of his committee in a series of virtual roundtables to discuss how transformational investments in U.S. infrastructure and transportation systems would benefit local communities, create good-paying jobs, and take badly-needed steps to fight the climate crisis. Specifically, Chair DeFazio heard from state Department of Transportation officials and other local transportation leaders from Massachusetts, Maryland, Hawaii, Illinois, Pennsylvania, and Georgia during the infrastructure roundtables, which were held over the two-week district work period.

Chair DeFazio joined roundtables convened by the following Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Members: Jake Auchincloss (MA-4), Stephen F. Lynch (MA-8), Seth Moulton (MA-6), Anthony G. Brown (MD-4), Kaiali’i Kahele (HI-2), Marie Newman (IL-3), Jesús “Chuy” García (IL-4), Conor Lamb (PA-17), Carolyn Bourdeaux (GA-7), Henry C. “Hank” Johnson, Jr. (GA-4), and Nikema Williams (GA-5). In addition, Chair DeFazio joined Chair of the House Committee on Appropriations Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) for an infrastructure summit hosted by Connecticut Construction Industries Association to discuss how investing in infrastructure will help communities across Connecticut prepare for the future.

“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,” Chair 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 next Wednesday, April 14, to provide a forum for non-committee Members to testify about their infrastructure priorities. More information on the hearing can be found here.

For more information about the Committee’s transformational plans to rebuild America’s infrastructure, please visit transportation.house.gov.

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