Issue Position: Transportation and Infrastructure

Issue Position

As a member of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, I recognize that Florida faces unique and pressing transportation challenges. Over the next decade, it will take an additional $23 billion just to maintain Florida's current transportation conditions. Many other states face similar budgetary shortfalls.

Given our nation's precarious economic climate, it is imperative that we craft transportation policies in a manner that optimizes economic efficiency and strengthens rural and urban transportation corridors across the United States.

As a member of the Subcommittee on Highways and Transit, one of my top legislative priorities is to enact a fiscally responsible, long-term surface transportation program. I support a surface transportation proposal that reforms federal programs, expedites the project approval process, maximizes leveraging of limited resources, provides flexibility for states and ensures long-term funding stability for job-creating transportation programs. Additionally, as a member of the Subcommittee on Aviation, I recognize that Congress must approve legislation to provide long-term funding for the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) that streamlines programs, reduces waste, and improves aviation safety.

Addressing existing regional and state transportation funding inequities remains of critical importance as Florida works to modernize its infrastructure. On average, Florida only receives 87 cents back for every dollar we send to Washington in federal gas taxes. That adds up to $5.16 billion in Florida taxpayer dollars that have been sent to other states to build and maintain their transportation systems. I look forward to working with my committee colleagues to ensure an equitable division of federal transportation dollars.

We must fund America's transportation priorities in a fiscally responsible manner. While I commend President Obama for making transportation and infrastructure improvements a priority, I was disappointed that his jobs agenda merely proposed more of the same failed government spending with borrowed taxpayer dollars. Instead, the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure supports user-fee financing whereby existing transportation trust funds, including the Highway Trust Fund, Airport and Airway Trust Fund, Inland Waterways Trust Fund and Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund, collect and administer federal monies for projects within their jurisdiction.

I am committed to advancing common sense legislation that will consolidate and improve the performance of transportation programs, while reducing government bureaucracy and increasing private sector infrastructure investments.

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