Pennsylvania Congressman Talks Transportation

by Jessica Duboff

Last Friday, Rep. Bill Shuster (R-PA), joined the Chamber, Mayor Villariagosa, Metro CEO Art Leahy, Metro Boardmember Richard Katz and Metrolink CEO John Fenton for a conversation on transportation authorization and America Fast Forward.  The Congressman, a senior member on the House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee and Chair of the Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines and Hazardous Materials emphasized to Chamber members that “if we don’t make our infrastructure a priority, we are going to get left behind globally.”

With the latest transportation extension set to expire on September 30th, Congress will need to address transportation when they return from August recess. While both Senator Barbara Boxer, Chair of the Environment and Public Works Committee, and Rep. John Mica, Chair of the House T & I Committee have released draft principles, formal bills have not been introduced and marked-up, meaning another extension will most likely be necessary. Rep. Shuster discussed the proposed House bill and some of the streamlining he believes will save money, as well as the increase in the TIFIA (Transportation Infrastructure Finance & Investment Act) program, which would be a win for the America Fast Forward initiative.

Mayor Villaraigosa asked the Member which areas he thought a fractured Congress could find bi-partisan support for, to which Rep. Shuster brought up TIFIA, the idea of off-shore drilling to bring in revenue to plug back into transportation, public private partnerships and the concept of performance measures which would “reward places like Los Angeles.” The Congressman admitted some of his colleagues do not understand the importance of infrastructure and dismissed some of the Tea Party calls to dismantle the DOT, saying transportation is a national issue; the programs need to be federal.  He also made clear that there is no appetite to raise the gas tax, which he believes should be talked about as a “user fee,” but that the idea of getting rid of the tax is “absolutely ludicrous.”

The Chamber shared with the Congressman our efforts to secure support across the country from the business community and from mayors across the country for a robust transportation reauthorization that includes support of innovative financing mechanisms, such as America Fast Forward. Rep. Shuster thanked Los Angeles for our leadership, remarking “Los Angeles has it all— rail, highways, buses ... it’s a place where we can come and learn.”