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WALZ PUBLISHES SURFACE TRANSPORTATION REQUESTS ON WEBSITE
Public announcement and internet posting of requests continues Walz’s commitment to transparency
For Immediate Release
May 19, 2009
Contact: Meredith Salsbery
507-388-2149
WASHINGTON D.C. — Today, Congressman Walz published 13 requests he hopes will be included in the new Surface Transportation Bill being written by Congress this year. Walz, a Member of the House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee acknowledges that not all requests will be included in the final bill and those that are will likely be authorized for a smaller amount than requested. However, the sophomore lawmaker says he is certain those requests that are funded will bring jobs to southern Minnesota and increase the economic competitiveness of the region.
“Projects like these will create jobs, get our economy moving and provide us with the high-quality roads and bridges we need to move people and goods efficiently,” said Walz. “America needs this Surface Transportation Bill more than ever – to enhance mobility, make our roads and bridges safer, protect the environment, reduce the cost of transportation inefficiencies, and put thousands of American workers back to work. I strongly believe that it is my duty to fight for funding for high-quality projects like expanding Highway 14 to make it safer, extending 55th Street in Rochester to ease traffic flow and encourage development and upgrade Highway 60 to improve mobility in southwestern Minnesota.”
This year, Congress will consider surface transportation authorization legislation against a backdrop of dire investment needs and severe economic circumstances. This legislation presents Congress and the President an opportunity to reverse years of severe underinvestment in our decaying transportation infrastructure and to create and sustain millions of good jobs.
Click here to view Congressman Walz’s 13 authorization requests.
Although this is only the first step in the process and these projects will likely only receive a portion of what has been requested, if anything, Walz said it is important for residents of southern Minnesota to be able to see the list of projects he has requested. A champion of transparency and accountability, Walz also did this with his appropriations requests, which can be found here.
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