Donohue Praises Transportation Infrastructure Commission Analysis

WASHINGTON, Jan. 15 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Today, Thomas J. Donohue,
president and CEO of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, released the following
statement on the Report of the National Surface Transportation Policy and
Revenue Study Commission:

"The National Surface Transportation Policy and Revenue Study Commission made
clear that America's surface transportation network is in trouble. Congress,
the business community, the American people, and all users of the
transportation system should pay close attention to this warning.

"We wholeheartedly agree that continued underinvestment and business-as-usual
transportation policies and programs will have a detrimental impact on the
ability of the United States to compete in the world economy and on the
everyday lives of Americans.

"I am pleased that the Commission proposes sweeping changes in surface
transportation policies and programs. In the coming weeks, we will examine
the recommendations closely and evaluate whether these changes will enable the
U.S. transportation system to adapt and meet the needs of an evolving global
economy.

"While every level of government has obligations in this endeavor, we concur
with the Commission that the federal government must bear a significant part
of the responsibility to ensure that national needs are met, roads, bridges,
transit systems, and other assets are maintained and improved, and
infrastructure investment is increased in proportion to the demands of global
trade and the flow of interstate commerce.

"When it comes to funding, every option must be considered to address the
enormous problems of the aging transportation infrastructure. It is clear
that chronic underinvestment is a major contributing factor to the problems
across all modes of transportation. The nation must also address rampant
earmarking, misuse of funding, lack of resource prioritization, and poor
comprehensive planning that marks current Federal transportation programs.

"As we all prepare for SAFETEA-LU reauthorization, we encourage Congress to
examine ways to spend infrastructure dollars more wisely, to ensure that
states do not divert Federal or state transportation funding away from
intended uses, to invest in new technologies, to attract more private
investment for projects, and to encourage public-private partnerships at the
state and local levels.

"The Chamber applauds the Commission's work and wholeheartedly agrees: now is
the time to move on a robust, thoughtful, and comprehensive plan to build,
maintain, and fund a world-class 21st century infrastructure. We cannot
afford to delay."

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is the world's largest business federation
representing more than 3 million businesses and organizations of every size,
sector, and region.

SOURCE U.S. Chamber of Commerce

John Reid or Chris Gindlesperger of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce,
+1-202-463-5682, +1-888-249-NEWS, press@uschamber.com