DeSaulnier-Authored Efforts to Improve Transportation Safety and Efficiency Pass in Transportation Committee

Press Release

Today, ten measures authored by Congressman Mark DeSaulnier (CA-11) were included in the U.S. House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure's INVEST in America Act (H.R. 2). The bill invests nearly $500 billion to fund new, transformative projects that will create millions of jobs, reduce carbon pollution, dramatically improve safety, and spur economic activity.

"Our nation's roads and bridges are crumbling before our eyes and as a result traffic increases, commutes are longer, and safety is compromised," said Congressman DeSaulnier. "Now is the moment for bold action to fix our infrastructure and put our country back to work. This bill, including measures I authored to reduce emissions, spur investment in public transportation, and ensure proper oversight of federal investments, is exactly what this country needs. We need big ideas to solve a big problem, and this bill does just that."

Congressman DeSaulnier's efforts included in the bill would support and encourage thoughtful, effective planning; provide strong oversight of our federal investments; and combat climate change through transportation infrastructure. Among those provisions were:

Growing Electric Vehicle (EV) Infrastructure: Based on Congressman DeSaulnier's Clean Corridors Act (H.R. 2616), the bill provides grant funding to build out EV and hydrogen fueling infrastructure, with an emphasis on communities that are most affected by greenhouse gas emissions. It also ensures that a range of EV chargers are eligible for federal funding, reducing "range anxiety" for EV owners and drivers.
Linking Economic and Transportation Development: Provides grants to help implement a process known as "land value capture" to better public transportation investment and requires the Department of Transportation to develop value capture best practices, standards, and policies. Congressman DeSaulnier originally introduced this language in the Incentivizing Value Capture for Greener Transportation Act (H.R. 5641).
Expanding Bike and Pedestrian Programs: Ensures that multi-county special districts, like the East Bay Regional Park District, are eligible for bike, pedestrian, and environmental innovation program funding.
Requiring Truck Underrides: Requires the Department of Transportation to issue regulations requiring the installation of rear impact underride guards on trailer and semitrailer trucks, based on the Stop Underrides Act (H.R. 1511) which Rep. DeSaulnier co-led with Rep. Steve Cohen (D-TN).
Prioritizing Transportation Accessibility: Originally included in Congressman DeSaulnier's COMMUTE Act (H.R. 1517), the language helps states and Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPOs) improve their transportation planning to help ease access to jobs, health care facilities, and affordable housing.
Improving Megaproject Oversight: Introduced by Congressman DeSaulnier in the Transportation Megaprojects Accountability and Oversight Act (H.R. 5508), the language establishes a megaprojects peer review group, helping to save taxpayers millions of dollars by reducing project cost overruns and minimizing projects delays.
Congressman DeSaulnier is a member of the House Committee on Transportation & Infrastructure. He previously served as Chair of the California State Senate Transportation and Housing Committee as well as the California Assembly Transportation Committee, is a former member of the California Air Resources Board (CARB), and has been a longtime leader in advocating for safe and efficient transportation systems.

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