Congresswoman Laura Richardson's Statement Supporting President Obama's Commitment to Improving the Nation's Transportation System and Urging the Creating of a National Freight Policy

Statement

Today, Congresswoman Laura Richardson released the following statement in support of President Obama's proposal to spend $50 billion to replace and upgrade the nation's aged roads, bridges and other transportation infrastructure and to encourage the President and Congress to support and pass a national freight policy.
"This announcement by President Obama is great news for our communities, our families and our economy. By investing this money, we will be able to upgrade deteriorated roads and bridges, like the increasingly fragile Gerald Desmond Bridge in Long Beach, which will create numerous local and national benefits. This transportation proposal, which would be the largest single transportation program in our nation since the National Interstate and Defense Highways Act of 1956, would improve our system of roads and bridges by replacing, expanding and renovating them and it would improve the economy by hiring workers and creating a transportation system that is better designed for modern residential and commerce uses.

"With the President taking this lead in improving our national transportation system, I look forward to working with him and my colleagues on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee to take it to the next logical step by creating and making into law a sensible national freight policy. Through a national freight policy we will be able to improve the flow of goods across, out of and in to our nation. I look forward to continuing my work to put in place a national freight policy for the 21st century, one that improves access to goods by all Americans, expands the ability of businesses to provide what is needed, and creates a more secure national environment by putting in safeguards to prevent catastrophic attacks and accidents."

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