Bishop Honored for Leadership on Transportation and Jobs

Press Release

In recognition of his support of transportation and infrastructure funding as a means to maintain New York's quality of life and create jobs throughout the state, Congressman Tim Bishop was honored last week by the American Council of Engineering Companies of New York (ACEC New York) with its highest honor, the Chairman's Award. Governor Andrew Cuomo also received ACEC New York's Chairman's Award this year.

"Congressman Tim Bishop has been a leading voice for preserving federal investments in transportation, water and aviation infrastructure since his election to Congress, said Michael Leydecker, Chairman of ACEC New York, in presenting the award. "As a senior member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, he has worked to safeguard New York's waterways, as well as to promote legislation that protects state beaches and creates employment opportunities for New Yorkers."

In the award citation, ACEC New York highlighted Bishop's role as a member of the House-Senate conference committee on the transportation bill, where Bishop is working to craft a compromise plan that will create jobs immediately in the beleaguered construction industry.

Bishop was also lauded for authoring the Water Quality Protection and Job Creation Act (H.R. 3145), which would address the nation's substantial needs for wastewater infrastructure by investing $13.8 billion over five years in wastewater infrastructure and authorize two additional options for long-term, alternative financing mechanisms to provide several billion dollars in supplementary funds for clean water infrastructure, including the establishment of a clean water trust fund.

"Like ACEC New York, I understand that investments in our nation's infrastructure create jobs and build a solid foundation for economic growth, and I am proud to receive this prestigious award with Governor Cuomo," said Congressman Bishop. "I will continue to work on a bipartisan basis to pass a transportation jobs bill that will address our pressing infrastructure needs and put Americans back to work."

Bishop introduced the bipartisan MAP-21 two-year transportation plan for consideration in the House of Representatives, where it has attracted 122 cosponsors. MAP-21, which passed the Senate by a 74-22 vote, would create or sustain 113,300 construction jobs in New York alone: 61,100 in highway construction and 52,200 in mass transit construction, according to the US Department of Transportation.

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