Today, Congressman Bill Shuster took part in a hearing before the
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure on the implementation of the transportation
portions of the "American Recovery Act."
Testifying today along side the Deputy Transportation Secretary and various state transportation
authorities was James W. Van Buren, the Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of New
Enterprise Stone & Lime Co., Inc. and Valley Quarries, headquartered in Bedford County. Mr.
Van Buren testified on behalf of the members of the American Road & Transportation Builders
Association.
"Throughout the debate on the stimulus, I made it clear that America has an immediate national
need to invest in our infrastructure and shore up our roads, bridges, rail lines and highways,"
Shuster said. "Months after its enactment, I remain disappointed in how the stimulus addressed
these urgent needs."
"Less than 8 percent of the trillion dollars spent on the stimulus was dedicated to infrastructure
and transportation projects. Worse, less than 13 percent of that has actually been spent. The
stimulus has stalled and there are too few projects in the pipeline," Shuster said.
"When projects stop, companies like New Enterprise Stone & Lime don't invest, hire employees,
or purchase equipment which sends ripples through the economy. This underscores the need to
develop a long term plan for infrastructure investment that will enable companies like New
Enterprise and Valley Quarries to plan ahead."
Video of today's discussion over the administration of the stimulus in funding transportation
projects can be viewed at online at Congressman Shuster's YouTube Channel:
www.youtube.com/repshuster.