It is fitting that during National Transportation Week the Senate, for the first time since 2007, passed a water resources bill. Shepherded by Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA) and Senator David Vitter (R-LA) through a unanimous committee vote and a strong bipartisan floor vote of
This article is part of a series on Enterprising States, a study produced by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation. The study, along with a accompanying Enterprising States Dashboard, was released at the U.S. Chamber's annual America’s Small Business Summit, April 29, 2013.
Frustrated by Washington, D.C.’s inability to address the nation’s infrastructure needs, some state governments are beginning to take matters into their own hands.
In state capitals, Republicans and Democrats alike are awakening to the fact that their states still have significant construction and maintenance needs, even as federal government’s share of highway funds is likely to decline.
The vitality of state economies, like that of the national economy, is directly tied to the success of thousands of small businesses. And state policymakers know this. Every state has policies and programs to encourage entrepreneurship and support small business development and expansion.
The nation’s infrastructure grade is barely above failing, and its continued deterioration has significant implications for the U.S. economy and its global competitiveness. In a report issued every four years, the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) gave the nation’s overall infrastructure—everything from aviation to wastewater systems—a D+.
Businesses place a high value on the mobility of their employees, customers and supply chains. A seamless, reliable, safe transportation system boosts gross domestic product. A system that is disjointed, unreliable, unsafe, and inadequate for future economic and population growth drags down the economy.
In the 20th century, America built the world’s best infrastructure. But, like a house, infrastructure requires habitual maintenance and renewal—which have been lacking recently due to continual underinvestment. A strong, safe, reliable infrastructure is central to U.S. economic and job-growth success, be it increasing domestic energy production, remaining competitive in agriculture or trying to reinvigorate manufacturing.
POLITICO and a few members of Congress raised doubts as to whether America’s infrastructure is truly “crumbling.” The implication from the article: things aren’t as bad as some “politicians and pundits” make them out to be. The article is an interesting juxtaposition given this piece
PortMiami is the world's busiest cruise port and a key international gateway for cargo. So it makes sense the President Obama would use it as a backdrop for a speech to highlight the economic benefits of investing in infrastructure, and specifically, the contribution of port infrastructure to increased trade.
Brought to you by FedEx and American Red Cross
A recent American Red Cross poll of small businesses sponsored by FedEx shows that fewer than half of small businesses (41%) have a disaster preparedness plan in place. Why so few? The many misconceptions about being better prepared for disasters and other emergencies. Here are five:
1) We will never be prepared for all the possibilities.
While the aviation industry has weathered the recession and is on pace to be profitable this year, it still faces too many taxes and regulations, unstable energy prices, and an outdated air traffic control system, according to top industry CEOs speaking at the U.S. Chamber’s 12th Annual Aviation Summit (Watch the webcast).
The American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) takes a look every four years at the conditions and performance of the nation’s infrastructure, from A to Z ( aviation to wastewater). The evaluations are based on capacity, condition, funding, future need, operation and maintenance, public safety and resilience.
About 70% of the Earth is covered in water, but just 3% is the fresh water used for drinking, farming and all aspects of life. While the amount of fresh water is inelastic, demand is rising fast. The amount of fresh water replenished each year is about 1.1 trillion gallons, while global water use is around 1.18 trillion gallons today and is expected to rise to 1.82 trillion gallons by 2030, reports a study from the 2030 Water Resources Group.
Nearly everyone agrees that a well-maintained infrastructure system could put Americans back to work, spur our economy, enhance our global competitiveness, reduce congestion, improve safety, and show that America can still get big things done. But in an era of deficits and budget shortfalls, how are we supposed to pay for it?
Our nation’s infrastructure system is in a rapid state of decline, threatening safety, productivity, and our global competitiveness, according to attendees at the Let’s Rebuild America’s Transportation and Infrastructure Summit.
Our transportation infrastructure – roads, rails, ports and airports – carries the life-blood of our economy. It helps us move goods, facilitate commerce and bring millions of international visitors to our country.
But these critical arteries are clogged, risking our health and viability as an economic leader.
The president will outline his second-term agenda during his State of the Union speech on Tuesday night. With 23 million people unemployed, underemployed, or who have stopped looking for work, the American public wants to hear from the president about policies that create jobs. Below are shareable tweets about each item in the Chamber’s Jobs & Growth agenda. Although the message in each tweet is important, we are asking our readers to select those they think are the most important to the future of the U.S. economy by retweeting them.
Traffic congestion across the nation is at an all time high and will only get worse, according to a new study by Texas A&M Transportation Institute.
Update: President Obama issued an executive order on cybersecurity on February 12, 2013. In anticipation of such action, the U.S. Chamber’s Ann Beauchesne wrote the following post on January 16.
“Infrastructure is important to our economy, to jobs, to growth.”
“Doing nothing costs a lot.”
We hear these words from President Obama, the Secretary of Transportation, and from both Democrats and Republicans in Congress.
Leaders beyond the Beltway are talking, too. Yesterday, in his State of the State Address, my home state governor, Matt Mead of Wyoming, made a statement that can and should be echoed by everyone in Washington:
Despite some improvement in business conditions in 2012, the U.S. economy is simply not growing fast enough to create jobs, lift incomes, expand opportunities, or contribute significantly to government revenues in order to reduce trillion dollar deficits, U.S. Chamber President and CEO Tom Donohue told a packed audience during his annual State of American Business address.
The past decade or so has largely been a rough one for the aviation industry. There was 9/11, new security regulations, and lots of red ink that only recently has stopped spilling. Over the last decade, U.S. air carriers experienced more than $50 billion in losses, according to Airlines for America (A4A), the largest airline trade association in the country. The industry has started to see some profit over the last two years, though very little. In 2011, the 11 U.S.
This article first appeared in Business Horizon Quarterly, a publication of the National Chamber Foundation.
As evidenced by AT&T’s announcement this week that it will invest an additional $14 billion in capital expenditures over the next three years to expand its wireless and wireline broadband networks, broadband continues to be a bright spot in the U.S. economy.
There’s a new Aquaman and Aqualad dynamic duo out there, but instead of fighting crimes, they are fighting cash-strapped cities and mayors, according to this item in the Wall Street Journal.
To use a baseball analogy, Bard College professor Walter Russell Mead goes one for two in his Wall Street op-ed on infrastructure.
He hits a solid double by correctly pointing out the permitting and NIMBY (Not In My Back Yard) problems that stall infrastructure projects. Streamlining this process would get needed projects built faster
This year we’ve focused a lot on what’s ahead—among other things, November’s high-stakes election and the looming fiscal cliff in January. We won’t let up on the political pressure leading up to Election Day. And we’re going to keep pushing for a resolution to the fiscal cliff, followed by a big deal to address long-term fiscal challenges. But it’s worth taking a moment to look back at a hard-fought victory on a transportation bill earlier this year.
Recent high-profile cyberattacks have renewed congressional interest in passing a stalled cybersecurity bill supported by the U.S. Chamber and the business community, according to the chair of the House Intelligence Committee.
Rep. Mike Rogers (R-MI) pointed to recent security breaches by China and Iran and threats from Russia. “Now there are new levels of threats, with very real consequences. Because of that, there’s a rekindled interest in getting something done in the lame duck.”
You like good roads and bridges, right? And you like when they’re built on time and under budget? Help pick the best of America’s transportation projects.
The American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO), AAA, and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce are asking the public to pick the winner of America’s Transportation Awards’ People’s Choice Award.
To most Americans, the nation’s sea ports and inland waterways are out of sight and out of mind. Potholed roads, creaky transit systems, and power outages caused by an overtaxed electrical grid quickly grab our attention while the importance of our marine transportation system to economic growth, jobs, and competitiveness – and the system's steady deterioration – goes greatly underappreciated.
A $15 million road in Texas
Was coming along with no vexes
The project was going OK
Till along came an (eyeless) spider
And sat down beside her
And then all the jobs went away.
Copyright 2012 Bloomberg.
Brian K. Sullivan
The tow boat Major General John Peabody uses to survey his domain as regional head of the Corps of Engineers couldn’t stop last week in Greenville, Mississippi.
The water in the harbor was so low that the 241-foot Mississippi V had to dock in Arkansas, at the end of a gravel road where grain trucks kicked up clouds of dust that covered cars with silt.
The European Union (EU) wants to slap a new carbon emissions tax on airlines that fly into their airspace. Steve Eule, Vice President at the U.S. Chamber’s Institute for 21st Century Energy points out the absurdity of this:
For the first time in seven years, Congress passed a $105 billion multiyear surface transportation bill, bringing certainty to road, highway, bridge, and transit projects and ensuring that project dollars are spent more wisely and stretched further. The job-creating bill, signed into law by President Obama on July 6, represents a significant victory for the U.S. Chamber and other pro-growth groups following a sustained lobbying, grassroots, and media campaign.
(Updated 7-31-12 at 7:30 AM)
In a July 27 letter to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, Sens. Lieberman, Collins, Rockefeller, and Feinstein criticized the business community’s opposition to S. 3414, the Cybersecurity Act of 2012, a so-called voluntary standards program that would regulate 18 sectors of the already struggling American economy. The senators take the Chamber’s July 25 letter to task on two issues.
The aviation sector contributes $670 billion in value added to the U.S. economy, equivalent to roughly 5% of GDP, and supports 9.3 million jobs, according to a recent report prepared by Oxford Economics on behalf from of the International Air Transport Association.
This article first appeared in Business Horizon Quarterly, a publication of the National Chamber Foundation.
I will be attending the White House signing ceremony today to witness President Obama sign into law the first long-term highway bill in seven years.
All I can say is, "It’s about time!"
Twenty-seven months of funding for our nation’s infrastructure system is a major step forward for the economy, and only weeks ago it seemed beyond reach. The legislation being signed today will save thousands of American jobs in the short term in construction-related industries and will help kick start our nation’s slow but steady economic recovery.
The bipartisan highway and transit bill will create jobs, enhance America’s competitiveness, bring needed reforms to transportation spending, and should be immediately signed by the president, according to U.S. Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Thomas J. Donohue.
“In the near term, this legislation will save thousands of jobs in construction and related industries,” said Donohue. “In the long term, it will strengthen the nation’s economy and global competitiveness. The president should sign it immediately.”
The U.S. Chamber congratulates House and Senate conference committee members for their commitment to negotiations and for their resolve in finding an equitable agreement to a long-term transportation reauthorization bill.
This legislation will save thousands of jobs in construction and related industries in the near term through the combination of the levels of investment and through reforms that will stretch federal dollars further in highway, transit, and safety projects. Long-term, these investments will strengthen the nation’s economy and spur economic growth.
September 30, 2012, marks the three-year anniversary of the expiration of the federal highway and public transportation programs. While Congress has spent much of the last three years debating a new path forward for federal transportation efforts, states, local governments and private interests have struggled to maintain existing highways, bridges and transit systems and to keep new projects afloat through the sputtering stops and starts of short-term extensions.
This article is taken from Enterprising States, a study produced by the National Chamber Foundation. The study was released at the U.S. Chamber's annual Jobs Summit on June 13, 2012.
As U.S. Chamber President and CEO Tom Donohue said in an opinion piece published in the Examiner and FreeEnterprise.com earlier this week, "If lawmakers do it [pass a highway and transit bill], they’ll bring badly needed reforms to our outdated highway and transit programs, restore certainty for our nation’s job creators, and create employment for workers.
Despite gridlock in Washington, lawmakers have rallied around a few key pieces of legislation that will spur job creation and economic growth—passage of free trade agreements and reauthorization of the Export-Import Bank come to mind. Congress has a chance to add to that list of accomplishments by finally passing long-term legislation to maintain our nation’s roads, bridges, and transit systems.
In an economy that continues to struggle, one bright spot is the so-called “app economy” fueled by the explosive proliferation of mobile devices and advances in wireless infrastructure. However, industry experts are concerned that regulatory overreach could halt the fast pace of progress.
There are more mobile devices than people in the United States. Smartphones, tablets and other mobile technology linked to high-speed broadband networks have revolutionized communication, entertainment, shopping, and the way in which we find information.
Tomorrow, the House is scheduled to vote on a procedural motion to instruct conferees of the surface transportation bill by Congressman Paul Broun (GA-10). The motion would instruct conferees to limit funding levels for federal highway and public transportation programs to what is supported by the Highway Trust Fund. Unfortunately, because Congress has punted on providing new revenue to the Highway Trust Fund since 1993, such an effort would result in cuts topping 30% in 2013.
USA Today’s Paul Davidson reported on Monday that “As the economy picks up, the nation’s creaking infrastructure will increasingly struggle to handle the load.” He points specifically to the freight system. While the shortcomings were partly masked during the recession due to the economy and a downturn in freight shipments, Davidson points out that “shippers and logistics companies show delays are starting to lengthen along with the moderately growing economy.
The legislative theme heading into the November election is congressional inaction, according to U.S. Chamber experts in transportation, education, and labor and immigration policies told attendees of America’s Small Business Summit 2012.
To kick off National Transportation Week, held May 13-19, the American Road & Transportation Builders Association (ARTBA) released some “fast facts” about the nation’s transportation infrastructure and its relationship to the national economy. The data, part of a larger economic profile authored by the association’s chief economist, Dr.
Today’s Christian Science Monitor included a thoughtful review of some of the biggest challenges Congress is facing as it tries to craft a path forward for the nation’s highway and public transportation programs. Unfortunately, the headline, “Transportation Bill, Not Yet Passed, Already Blasted by Critics,” misses a key sentiment in the transportation, business, and labor communities: the bill that is currently being hammered out in conferenc
Yesterday in the House-Senate Conference, it was stated that the U.S. Chamber was not supportive of the House’s approach on re-authorizing surface transportation legislation. Let me take this opportunity to set the record straight. The Chamber has consistently supported the efforts of Speaker Boehner and Chairman Mica to bring House companion legislation to the Surface Transportation Reauthorization Conference. The reforms embedded in both House and Senate proposals capture many of the transformational reforms we have been calling for over the last 7 years.
To many, “economic espionage” sounds like a good plot twist in a blockbuster action film or in a best-selling crime novel. But it is a fact—not fiction—that organized criminals, “hacktivists,” and some foreign governments are spying and stealing in cyberspace. Like it or not, along with the commercial benefits of a world interconnected through the Web, bad actors have figured out ways to steal business secrets, raid consumer financial information, and wreak havoc on business networks. And these cyber threats are on the rise.
Copyright 2012 Bloomberg.
Jeff Plungis and James Rowley
The U.S. House extended current funding of surface transportation programs through Sept. 30, setting up a negotiation with Senate Democrats over multiyear spending.
The Senate recently passed legislation that extends federal funding to highway and transit systems for three more months. It narrowly avoids the shutdown of transportation projects across the country at a time when America’s businesses and job seekers are looking forward to the construction season.
The next time the Wall Street Journal editorial board decides to reprint talking points from the Heritage Foundation they might endeavor in some fact-checking. In today’s Wall Street Journal piece, the editorial board offers a menu of reasons why the federal government shouldn’t be involved in transportation investment including the inequities it creates between states, saying that Western and Southern states get less than they pay in.
The U.S. Chamber’s National Chamber Foundation (NCF) brought together representatives from the aviation industry, government officials, and system users to rally behind important aviation issues during its 11th Annual Aviation Summit “Flying Towards Global Economic Growth” event on April 12 (watch the webcast).
When I say “infrastructure” roads, bridges, and maybe airports probably pop into your head, but don't forget seaports. They move most goods in and out of the United States and support millions of jobs. This week, Jerry Bridges, chairman of the board of the American Association of Port Authorities, wrote about the funding issues ports are facing:
Ratings agency Standard and Poor’s warned that there is the risk of a credit crisis if Congress doesn’t pass a long-term highway bill. The Fiscal Times reports:
The highway bill remains in Congressional limbo. Last week, Congress passed a ninth extension--avoiding a shutdown--in the hope that the House can pass something and work out their differences with the Senate in a conference committee.
The on-going saga of the highway bill continued yesterday when Congress passed a 90-day extension that the President signed.
Copyright 2012 Bloomberg.
Jeff Plungis
House and Senate lawmakers voted to extend U.S. highway programs through June 30, averting a shutdown of construction projects and the furlough of 3,500 federal-government workers.
Both chambers acted today to head off the lapse of federal highway programs on March 31. Lawmakers are scheduled to wrap up legislative business this week before taking a spring recess. The temporary measure now goes to President Barack Obama for his signature.
In the 20th century, the United States built the most advanced infrastructure system ever. Substantial investments put millions to work and fueled our economic growth, expanded our horizons, and made us the envy of the world. But in the years since, we’ve failed to keep up those investments, and we’ve moved from first in the world to middle of the pack.
It’s time to restore our infrastructure through smart investments, which can help strengthen our economy, create jobs, and enhance U.S. productivity and competitiveness.
Over at the National Chamber Foundation's blog, Michael Hendrix writes about recent Commerce Department export numbers and lists the top ten exporting metro areas in America:
Copyright 2012 Bloomberg.
Jeff Plungis
Congress’s rhetoric ahead of the March 31 expiration of a law funding U.S. highway and transit projects resembles the dueling that led to last July’s impasse shutting down the Federal Aviation Administration for two weeks.
About 4,000 government workers were furloughed. The agency lost $468 million, according to data compiled by Bloomberg, when airlines for 16 days pocketed a ticket tax that would have been used for airport construction.
Sharpen your pencils. We’ve got a quiz for you.
As part of its American Jobs and Growth Agenda, the Chamber is running this ad in newspapers including the Wall Street Journal and The Hill. The ad is part of the Chamber's nationwide print, online, and social media blitz to rally its members, grassroots supporters, and the public around rebuilding America’s roads, bridges, airports, seaports, water facilities, and transit systems.
Get smart on infrastructure. Visit www.uschamber.com/jobs.
Transportation is a critical element of our nation’s economic competitiveness. Highways are the veins and arteries of our economy through which commerce flows.
Transportation legislation is on the move. If a finalized highway and transit bill can be on President Obama's desk by the March 31 deadline, there is potential to make America's road and transit systems safer, save time and money, and create jobs.
They did it! The Senate just passed its two-year, bi-partisan highway and transit bill known as “MAP-21.” MAP-21 is short for Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century, and carries the bill number S. 1813 (Want to sound like a Beltway insider? Call the bill by its number instead of its name.) We applaud every senator voting for final passage. It’s an important step toward finally passing a multi-year highway and transit bill that maintains—at a minimum—funding for highways and transit AND reforms policies and programs.
Associated Equipment Distributors is out with a new report asking, in essence, how much do infrastructure investment pay back in return?
The highway trust fund debate continues. And while the business community strongly supports roads and bridges, and our economy needs the jobs these projects create, Congress should not add extraneous amendments to this bill that would destroy our global competitiveness and hurt capital formation. Amendments by Senator Levin that include provisions contained in S. 2075, the “Cut Unjustified Tax Loopholes Act,” and S. 1346, the “Stop Tax Haven Act,” do just that and the Chamber strongly opposes these provisions.
Across the front of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce is a giant banner. Facing the White House, it reads “J-O-B-S.”
As the head of the Chamber’s Transportation & Infrastructure division you don’t have to tell me that airports mean jobs, but with the recent proposal by the Obama Administration to cut airport investment, and the cuts to authorized programs in the FAA reauthorization bill, Airports Council International's (ACI) report carries a timely message: AIRPORTS EQUAL JOBS.
This article originally appeared in Business Horizon Quarterly, a publication of the National Chamber Foundation.
What do the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the National Resources Defense Council have in common? If you said “nothing,” you’d be wrong. Both groups support a multi-year highway and transit reauthorization legislation. In fact, both organizations signed a letter urging Congress to expeditiously pass a bill.
Continuing on the nationwide grassroots road show with the Chamber-led Americans for Transportation Mobility, I visited Greensboro, North Carolina and Boise, Idaho. I heard a lot of chatter regarding concerns with the state of our infrastructure and had the opportunity to speak with a number of folks in their local communities. Here are some of the comments I heard on the road:
The United States is a relatively young nation that is starting to look very old. I’m not talking about its people; I’m referring to its infrastructure. In need of more than just a shot of Botox or a facelift, our nation’s infrastructure requires an extreme makeover.
In the first few decades following World War II, America wowed the world with its infrastructure boom, which included the construction of our vast interstate highway system. But the days when the United States was a model for progress and engineering magnificence are fading.
Tuesday, I crisscrossed Ohio for events with the Dayton Area Chamber of Commerce, Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber and Columbus Chamber of Commerce. Meanwhile, Alex Herrgott was in the Heartland (Kansas City, MO; Topeka, KS; Omaha, NE; and Council Bluffs, IA).
Here’s what I heard in the Buckeye State:
Potholes, cracks, crumbling asphalt, and growing congestion – we experience them in our daily commutes, taking the kids to school, and on family roadtrips. The neglect of our infrastructure is costly, as Sheryll Poe reports for FreeEnterprise.com:
America’s infrastructure is getting creaky. From roads, rails, waterways, and pipelines to airports, seaports, bridges, and transit stops in between, the physical platform of the nation’s economy is nearing the end of its useful life. And though it is widely recognized that infrastructure improvements are essential to job creation, economic growth, and enhanced U.S. competitiveness, the political will to make the necessary investments remains elusive.
When it comes to the critical issue of cybersecurity, Congress should work to reduce the fragmented and often conflicting burdens that are placed on industry instead of adding to the regulatory burden of American businesses, said Tom Ridge, chair the Chamber’s National Security Task Force.
As both the House and Senate debate federal surface transportation bills, Washington is abuzz with debate regarding the merit and scope of the federal programs. Below, I provide answers to 5 frequently asked questions.
What is the condition of our transportation system?
This year we’ve got a fighting chance to get our economy moving, get Americans working, and tackle long-overdue projects to modernize crumbling infrastructure. Nearly everyone agrees that making fiscally responsible investments in our transportation and infrastructure is a legitimate function of government—and that it can pave the way for stronger economic growth and job creation. Congress must push through the gridlock that has contributed to our idling economy and move on core transportation bills—now.
Feb. 7 (Bloomberg) -- The U.S. Senate’s approval yesterday of a bill to run the Federal Aviation Administration for four years ends the political gridlock that triggered a two-week partial shutdown of the agency last year.
Note: Post originally appeared on National Chamber Foundation's Future of Business blog.
Ahead of the State of the Union Address, we published a listener’s guide and highlighted the business community’s plan to grow jobs and strengthen the economy.
Below is how the president's speech rhetoric stack ups up against his record and the U.S. Chamber's jobs plan.
We asked: Will the president say anything on energy and infrastructure?
Today, more than 1,000 companies, chambers of commerce, organizations and labor groups from all 50 states signed a letter to Congress asking them to “make transportation job #1” and pass a federal highway and public transit bill this spring. For all the upbeat talk that Democratic and Republican leadership have paid this legislation, this job creator continues to languish on the sidelines like
Despite the tremendous job-creating potential and support of the business and labor community, the Obama Administration yesterday formally rejected a permit for the construction of the 1,700-mile Keystone XL oil pipeline from Canada to the Gulf of Mexico, which could have created as many as 250,000 jobs by 2035.
With America facing a still sluggish economy and great uncertainty, Washington lawmakers must not take the election year off but, rather, get busy working with business to achieve everyone’s highest priority—putting Americans back to work, said U.S. Chamber President and CEO Tom Donohue during his annual State of American Business address.
Far underneath America’s major cities, a crisis is brewing. I speak not of earthquakes or volcanoes, but of sewers and water mains. Much of the essential infrastructure that keeps our water supply safe and consistent has already reached an expiration date. In many cases, over a century of wear and tear has taken its toll, and with each year that this critical infrastructure is left derelict it becomes more wasteful and more costly to repair.
As GOP presidential caucuses and primaries kick into full gear, some elected leaders in Washington are settling into campaign mode themselves, avoiding tough issues, neglecting what they were elected to do, and instead drawing lines in the sand preparing for campaign season. Our country can’t afford 2012 to be a wasted year in Washington.
Recently confirmed U.S. Commerce Secretary John Bryson gave his first major policy speech at the U.S. Chamber on December 15. Rolling out his agency’s motto, “Build It Here, Sell It Everywhere,” Bryson, the former CEO of California utility Edison International for 18 years, said that his agency’s top priorities are to support advanced manufacturing, increase U.S. exports, and attract foreign direct investment to the United States.
A look back at 2011 reveals a Congress and an administration that missed multiple opportunities to alleviate uncertainty, accelerate growth, and create jobs. The administration’s postponement of a decision on the construction of a pipeline carrying Canadian oil to the Gulf Coast and Congress’ inability to offer a long-term solution to the debt ceiling crisis are two examples that quickly come to mind.
Abundant and available private capital should be considered as a resource for infrastructure investments when traditional funding is unavailable or less efficient, according to transportation advocates attending the U.S. Chamber’s Infrastructure Investment Forum.
Yesterday, the Chamber’s Let’s Rebuild America initiative hosted an Infrastructure Investment Forum to explore how private investment in national infrastructure can help resolve America’s transportation project gridlock. The forum featured keynote remarks from Senator Mark Kirk and a high-level panel of distinguished issue experts.
Yet another congressional attempt to raise taxes was shot down this week when Senate Republicans filibustered a so-called jobs bill touted by President Obama.
On November 3, Republicans successfully blocked the Rebuild American Jobs Act, which would provide $60 billion for transportation infrastructure projects. The action marked the third blow to President Barack Obama’s jobs agenda.
To arm small business owners against ever-growing cyber threats, the U.S. Chamber has joined up with the U.S. Federal Communications Commission to launch a free online toolkit to help businesses develop a cybersecurity strategy.
Infrastructure improvement is driving the debate in Washington this week. Following Chamber President and CEO Tom Donohue's appearance on This Week in which he discussed the jobs-generating impact of infrastructure investment, there's news that House Republicans are pitching their transportation bill as a jobs bill.
Keeping up the drumbeat on the Chamber’s six-point plan to help grow the economy and create jobs – without increasing the deficit – the Chamber’s President and CEO Tom Donohue took to the Sunday shows this morning, appearing on ABC News’ This Week with one simple message: We can create jobs through infrastructure programs.
The Chamber’s President and CEO Tom Donohue will appear on ABC News’ This Week with one simple message: We can create jobs immediately. Contrary to the conventional wisdom that Washington is “broken” or that “nothing will get done before Election Day,” Tom and the Chamber understand that there are things we can do to create milli
Rebuilding America's roads, bridges, sewage systems, and other infrastructure isn't about throwing billions of dollars around and hoping good things happen. As Andrew Herrmann, president-elect of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), writes in an op-ed in Politico today, it's about investing "in a smart, results-oriented way." He continues:
In this guest post, Stu Levenick, Group President, Caterpillar, urges Congress to reauthorize the surface transportation bill, SAFETEA-LU.
In this guest post, HNTB's Paul Yarossi, an advisor to the Chamber’s Let’s Rebuild America initiative, offers some insights on how to tap into the pool of private capital as Congress and the Administration debate much-needed policy reforms.
Last night, a rare bipartisan agreement was sent to the President's desk when the Senate passed an extension of surface transportation and aviation programs. This is a win for Congress and for those looking to see job creation. With this extension, states and other project sponsors can move forward on projects and keep people working.
This opinion piece was authored by Chamber President and CEO Thomas J. Donohue and originally appeared in The Wall Street Journal.
The president’s jobs plan calls for tens of billions of dollars of additional investment in roads, rails, and airports and $10 billion in seed money for a new national infrastructure bank. We’re encouraged that the president recognizes the need to modernize the nation’s aging infrastructure. Infrastructure investment is a component of the Chamber's six-point jobs plan.
This ad running this week in national newspapers including the Wall Street Journal and USA Today is part of the Chamber's nationwide print, online, and social media ad blitz to rally its members, grassroots supporters, and the public around six steps Washington can take to create millions of new jobs.
Check out this video of Chamber President and CEO, Tom Donohue outlining the six steps Congress and the President can do now to grow the economy and create jobs:
Zero.
That was the number many Americans were talking about during the unofficial final weekend of summer, because that was the number of net jobs created in August.
Zero isn't so much a number as the absence of one. It's a void, a hole. Our economy is in a hole with millions of people unemployed, and millions more who have given up looking for work.
Yesterday, the president’s Council on Jobs and Competitiveness hosted a listening and action session in Dallas, Texas for Council members, Administration officials, and business and union leaders to discuss with local businesses, stakeholders, and elected officials how the public and private sectors can partner to create opportunity and support job creation through inf
As the expiration date for federal legislation authorizing investment in roads, bridges, and transit systems approaches, U.S. Chamber officials, labor union leaders, and the Obama Administration have joined together to call for timely renewal of the program.
National safety and preparedness has improved in the 10 years since the 9/11 terrorist attacks, but there is still much work to be done, according to the current and former heads of the Department of Homeland Security.
Bloomberg Views is out with an editorial that touts the creation of a National Infrastructure Bank (NIB) as a way to combat the staggering unemployment our country faces. While the infrastructure bank is a great idea, and one that the Chamber supports wholeheartedly, NIB is a long-term strategy to reform the way we develop and finance major new infrastructure pr
As the first U.S. secretary of homeland security, Tom Ridge helped guide the country through a period of crisis and change. Now, the former governor of Pennsylvania leads Ridge Global, his own international security and risk management firm, headquartered in Washington, D.C. Ridge, who is chairman of the U.S.
For the sake of near- and long-term job creation, stronger economic growth, and enhanced U.S. competitiveness, the Chamber strongly supports robust surface transportation reauthorization legislation that addresses revenue shortfalls and includes necessary and urgent policy and program reforms.
It’s been one week since Congress failed to extend the programs, taxes and fees for the FAA.
In this week:
Potholes, crumbling bridges, and worn-out transportation systems will cost the country hundreds of thousands of jobs and trillions of dollars in economic growth according to an American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) report on the need to repair America's roads, bridges, and infrastructure.
The ASCE study finds:
A U.S. Chamber index that measures the effectiveness of the nation’s transportation infrastructure was a mix of good and bad news this year.
The good news? In 2009, the latest year data was available, the Transportation Performance Index (TPI) spiked upward to 56.6 above the 2008 level of 52.82, which is the largest improvement in a single year since 1990, the first year the index measured performance.
Check out some pictures from the Chamber's conference, Infrastructure: What We Want, What We Need, headlined by retired U.S. Coast Guard Admiral Thad Allen. The Chamber released the updated Transportation Performance Index at the conference.
Last week, Los Angeles residents braced for a weekend-long closure of the vital 405 freeway – a transportation interruption so significant that the anticipated traffic jams were dubbed “Carmageddon.”
Yesterday, House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee Chairman John Mica rolled out a detailed outline of a SAFETEA-LU reauthorization bill that addresses highways, highway safety, public transportation, freight and passenger rail, and marine transportation issues. I live tweeted like a madwoman during Mica’s two-hour event (
We all feel the pain of rising oil prices—when we ship goods by truck or plane and when we fill up at the gas pump. U.S. families and businesses spent more than $900 billion on refined oil products in 2008.
Not only is our dependence on foreign oil expensive, it’s also risky. Too often, oil dependence requires us to accommodate hostile governments that share neither our values nor our goals, making both the United States and its allies vulnerable.
The United States and Mexico share a border of nearly 2,000 miles, a cultural heritage, and a desire to grow both our economies through cooperation and hard work. The two nations also share an obligation to address a series of complex border issues. While immigration and drug-related violence receive the most attention, economic considerations such as trade facilitation, travel, and infrastructure are equally important.
With the number of airline passengers expected to increase by 36% increase by 2015 and with huge increases in cargo as well, additional investment in the nation’s aviation infrastructure is essential, according to participants at the U.S. Chamber’s 10th Annual Aviation Summit.
Airlines have done the math and have seen the business case for equipping their airplanes for NextGen technology, Randy Babbitt, Administrator for the Federal Aviation Administration, Babbitt told a standing room crowd at the U.S. Chamber’s 10th Annual Aviation Summit today.
So I just saw Chamber president and CEO Tom Donohue kick off the Chamber's 10th Annual Aviation Summit. Tom began his remarks by underscoring the importance of a safe, s
Are water main breaks the new Old Faithful?
They might be if we don’t take action on our water infrastructure soon. Badly outdated and increasingly showing its weaknesses, the American Society of Civil Engineers gave our nation’s drinking water system a D-minus in its 2009 Report Card of America's Infrastructure.
Today, a coalition from both ends of the political spectrum joined together in Ohio to highlight a new study about the cost of congestion and aging roads in the Buckeye State.
Both business and labor stood together to release the report entitled, “Future Mobility in Ohio: Meeting the State’s Need for Safe and Efficient Mobility.” It finds deficient roadways are costing Ohio’s average motorist $835 a year and costing the state’s highway users $6.5 billion annually.
While there are signs the economy is turning around, the unemployment rate remains stubbornly high. There are no easy solutions and it’s not going to get better overnight. But there are simple steps we can take that will make a big difference while improving our energy efficiency at the same time.
Yesterday another weapon was added to the arsenal of those fighting for improving the performance of U.S. infrastructure and preparing for the economy of the future. A new paper from the Organization for International Investment (OFII) “highlights the important role modernized, world-class infrastructure plays in attracting global companies to the United States.” It also makes clear that now is not the time for Americans to assume that the U.S.
I love the opportunity to celebrate an accomplishment rather than focusing on challenges. Saturday presented that kind of opportunity in the form of the dedication of the new Air Traffic Control System Command Center just outside of Washington, DC, in Vint Hil
The nation’s infrastructure—the lifeblood of our economy—is in rapid decline, the victim of underinvestment. A 2008 report estimated that the United States needs to invest $250 billion annually for the next 50 years to legitimately meet only surface transportation needs. We’re nowhere near that level of investment.
There is no more important time than this moment to be thinking long term, rebuilding a solid economic foundation for our country, and investing in good jobs to maintain U.S. competitiveness with countries like China, India, and Germany.There are 13.9 million unemployed workers in the United States and millions more who are underemployed or stuck in part-time jobs. Building and construction trades workers have been particularly hard hit, with a national unemployment level at 22.5%—and even higher in some crafts and areas of the country.
by Blair Latoff
Today at a at a bi-partisan and bi-cameral press gathering on Capitol Hill, U.S. Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Thomas J. Donohue reiterated his support for increased investment in surface transportation.
Today Janet Kavinoky spoke to the National Industrial Transportation League's Washington briefing about investing in our nation’s infrastructure.
U.S. Chamber President and CEO Tom Donohue on March 15 announced the Chamber’s support for a national infrastructure bank to help finance the reconstruction and modernization of the nation’s aging infrastructure system.
“What do you do when your needs are great, but your purse strings are tight? You do what Americans have always done—innovate. Be creative. Think outside the box. Make the absolute most out of the resources you have,” Donohue said at a press conference on Capitol Hill. “A national infrastructure bank does all those things.”
A day after Tom Donohue went up to the Hill to discuss the importance of passing a good surface transportation bill, standing up a national infrastructure bank, and removing roadblo
The Chamber’s new study, Progress Denied: A Study on the Potential Economic Impact of Permitting Challenges Facing Proposed Energy Projects, reveals that stalled energy projects are costing the U.S. economy nearly 2 million jobs.
What exactly is Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment (EVSE)? Is it more than just chargers but also energy management? What might be EVSE’s impact on transportation; on the electricity grid, and on energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions?
Politics can make for strange bedfellows. Case in point: Last week I joined AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka to testify on infrastructure investment before the Senate Environment & Public Works Committee. Rich and I don’t agree on much, but we believe that modernizing infrastructure will create jobs and economic growth.
Business and labor came together as U.S. Chamber President Tom Donohue and AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka urged Congress to invest more in America’s infrastructure.
“The oddest couple since Felix and Oscar,” said Donohue of his joint appearance with Trumka before the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee on February 16. Donohue and Trumka urged members of Congress to set aside their ideological and partisan differences and unite behind policies that rebuild our nation’s crumbling infrastructure system, the physical platform that supports our economy.
U.S. Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Thomas J. Donohue and AFL-CIO chief Richard Trumka aren’t Facebook friends and aren’t invited to the same dinner parties. But today, in the name of U.S. competitiveness, they put aside their differences and appeared before a Senate committee united behind policies to rebuild the nation’s crumbling infrastructure system.
During his January 25 State of the Union address, President Obama offered a number of proposals designed to jumpstart the sluggish economy, create more U.S. jobs, and sharpen U.S. competitiveness. Below are the key proposals and the Chamber’s reaction.
EDUCATION
The Chamber's American Free Enterprise. Dream Big. campaign is surging forward in an effort to create the 20 million jobs needed in the next decade to replace the jobs lost in the current recession and to meet the needs of America's growing workforce. The Chamber believes the path to recovery lies in improving existing regulations and implementing smart policies that allow American businesses and the economy to grow.
In response to the Heritage Foundation post, "House Transportation Rule is Waste Buster"
The U.S. Chamber supports federal investment in highways and transit. I respectfully disagree with Mr. Utt's comments (and would challenge the correctness of many of them). In short, we oppose the Republican Leadership's proposed rule -- and support Congressman LaTourette's amendment and here's why.
The Proposed Change is...
By Tom Donohue, President and CEO, U.S. Chamber of Commerce
December 14, 2010
With the 111th Congress winding down, lawmakers are focusing only on must-pass legislation required to fund the government and to extend the 2001 and 2003 tax cuts. Unfortunately, some important work was left undone in the past two years. Topping the list is investment in transportation infrastructure—our nation’s economic foundation.
Alan Bersin, Commissioner, U.S. Customs and Border Protection
We are seeing evidence of it from coast-to-coast: our nation's water infrastructure is in need of repair. But this isn't simply an issue that demands our immediate attention. This is also an opportunity for America to invest in water and by doing so, grow the economy at the same time.
With a career spanning more than 40 years in government, business, and law enforcement, Howard Schmidt brings a unique and deep experience to his role as special assistant to the president and cybersecurity coordinator for the federal government. Schmidt recently sat down with Free Enterprise staff writer Sheryll Poe to discuss the shared responsibility of all citizens to protect against cybercrime.
Worms ... Viruses ... Hackers ... Cybercrime in the United States is on the rise at troubling rates. According to the Internet Crime Complaint Center’s (IC3’s) 2009 Internet Crime Report, annual crime complaints reported to IC3 have increased nearly 668% since 2001. The dollar loss from cybercrimes referred to law enforcement in 2009 totaled $559.7 million, a 112% increase from 2008.
FedEx Freight President Bill Logue says that infrastructure-caused delays mean condensed delivery windows, more facilities, and extra trucks, planes, and employees--all of which increase FedEx Freights' costs. Photo: Ian Wagreich
To arm small business owners against ever-growing cyber threats, the U.S. Chamber has released its Internet Security Essentials for Business, a guide to help businesses secure valuable proprietary property, digital devices, and networks and make hacking increasingly expensive for individuals and criminal organizations.
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce could not agree more with the bi-partisan panel of experts, led by two former transportation secretaries, that concluded our declining transportation system will undermine our ability to compete in the global economy.
By Tom Donohue, President and CEO, U.S. Chamber of Commerce
October 5, 2010
The nation’s transportation system is underperforming and unable to meet the needs of the business community and the overall economy, according to a groundbreaking new index released by the U.S. Chamber.
The U.S.
Last week, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) and AAA the announced the top ten projects for the 2010 America’s Transportation Awards competition.
For the naysayers who argue that American manufacturing is dead (it’s not!), let me suggest that they take a look at what’s happening in the aerospace industry. Despite the recent economic downturn, aerospace achieved $215 billion in sales last year, all while providing more than 644,000 good-paying jobs.
By Tom Donohue, President and CEO, U.S. Chamber of Commerce
September 14, 2010
For the naysayers who argue that American manufacturing is dead (it’s not!), let me suggest that they take a look at what’s happening in the aerospace industry. Despite the recent economic downturn, aerospace achieved $215 billion in sales last year, all while providing more than 644,000 good-paying jobs.
From The Economist:
The Chamber’s Let’s Rebuild America initiative and the National Chamber Foundation today held the third in a five part series of forums examining the concept of a national infrastructure bank. Today’s event focused on a clean energy bank, and was cosponsored by the Chamber’s Institute for 21st Century Energy.
When it comes to transportation policy, you usually hear the Chamber talking about the fixed infrastructure in the U.S. – roads, rails, runways – or about smoothing the bumps in supply chains by creating more reliable, dependable transportation networks or minimizing regulatory costs to the truck drivers or airlines that get people and goods to their final destinations.
Yesterday, Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairman Julius Genachowski testified before the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee at a hearing on the National Broadband Plan.
Some reports from Tom Donohue's visit to India:
Joining such luminaries as Warren Buffett and Wal-Mart CEO Michael Duke, the U.S. Chamber’s Janet Kavinoky was named to The Journal of Commerce’s 7th Annual Leadership Roll. The Journal recognized Kavinoky for her leadership on transportation issues.
“As director of the chamber’s Let’s Rebuild America coalition, Kavinoky is prominent among stakeholders who are pushing Congress to give goods movement a prominent place in a new multiyear surface transportation bill,” The Journal noted in its March 29 issue.
The Journal of Commerce on leadership and their efforts to recognize it:
|
|
By Tom Donohue, President and CEO, U.S. Chamber of Commerce |
Today is the anniversary of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), and the Americans for Transportation Mobility (ATM) Coalition is highlighting the successes of transportation and infrastructure investment. Executive Director Janet Kavinoky had this to say:
Investing in transportation infrastructure and creating the accompanying jobs should be a “no-brainer” and should not be held up by health care and climate change legislation, according to U.S. Chamber President and CEO Tom Donohue.
Our economic platform is running out of capacity and it is dangerously declining in quality and safety. To meet our infrastructure needs, we need to boost public investments while working to ensure that the money is spent wisely in areas of genuine need. Reauthorization of the nation’s core highway bill is essential.
We need to create jobs and we need to modernize our infrastructure, there is an obvious harmony between these two needs and an obvious question -- How do we pay for it? Recently, the President called for innovative approaches to infrastructure investment. He is correct that the government can’t meet the tremendous needs to maintain, modernize and expand infrastructure on its own.
Yesterday the AAA, American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO), and U.S. Chamber announced the top ten finalists in the 2009 America's Transportation Awards competition. Now the competition beings anew: America's Transportation Awards' Grand Prize will be determined by independent judging and will be presented at the AASHTO Annual Meeting on October 25, in Palm Desert, California.
Though we spar with labor unions over many issues there are many others were we agree and work together. Case in point, this post over the weekend in the Politico's Arena by Terry O'Sullivan, General President of LIUNA – the Laborers' International Union of North America, and Tom J. Donohue, president and CEO of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.
|
|
By Tom Donohue, President and CEO, U.S. Chamber of Commerce |
With most members of Congress back in their home districts for the August recess, now is an ideal time for citizens to personally lobby them on key issues and to participate in town hall meetings and other issue-related community events.
As the expiration date for federal legislation authorizing investment in roads, bridges, and transit systems approaches, U.S. Chamber members are clamoring for timely renewal of the program.
Representatives from businesses, associations, and chambers of commerce around the country gathered in Washington, D.C., to call for improved existing surface transportation programs and increased investment. The July 14 and 15 event was sponsored by the Chamber's Let's Rebuild America initiative and Americans for Transportation Mobility (ATM).
First up, The Christian Science Monitor writes:
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce will not support the Obama Administration’s suggestion to temporarily extend the current surface transportation funding bill instead of reauthorizing it, with greater investment, for a full six-year period, according to Chamber President and CEO Tom Donohue.
Janet Kavinoky has a piece in Roll Call today on why we need to make the tough decisions on our nation's infrastructure, and how we can pay for them. It concludes:
Seen on New York Ave, learn how you can support SAFETEA-LU reauthorization.
The USA Today reports: "Under pressure to spend stimulus money quickly, many states are using the federal funds for short-term projects and to fill budget gaps rather than spending on long-term improvements, according to a report by congressional investigators."
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce will not support the Obama Administration's suggestion to temporarily extend the current surface transportation funding bill instead of reauthorizing it, with greater investment, for a full six-year period, according to Chamber President and CEO Tom Donohue.
|
|
By Tom Donohue, President and CEO, U.S. Chamber of Commerce |
Janet Kavinoky was interviewed yesterday on the need to protect our nation's core surface transportation programs:
U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood said that a next generation air traffic control system is a top administration priority and that Congress must authorize funding for it. LaHood spoke at an aviation summit hosted by the National Chamber Foundation, the Chamber's public policy think tank, on April 29, 2009.
|
|
By Tom Donohue, President and CEO, U.S. Chamber of Commerce |
Chamber veteran Suzanne Clark, currently President of the National Journal Group, led a group of current Chamber experts in a discussion of legislative priorities for our small business owners. On the panel were Carol Hallett, Randy Johnson, and Bill Kovacs talking about infrastructure, labor, and the environment respectively. Suzanne gave them each three minutes to open.
Just one thing to add to Tom's post on U.S.
I am going to be spending the rest of my day helping prep for America's Small Business Summit, which starts Monday, so infotain yourself:
Last week I posted on the importance of the Next Gen Air Transportation System (NextGen) to bring the U.S. aviation system up to 21st century standards. Today the Washington Post gives us a picture worth a thousand words -- the aggregate daily flights into and out of the New York metropolitan area's airports -- and some strong words of support for NextGen as well:
Maintaining and modernizing our nation's critical transportation infrastructure should be a national priority, especially when it comes to our aviation industry. The health of the U.S. aviation system is of critical importance to the business community because it facilitates the movement of goods and people through commercial, business and private travel. Unfortunately, the U.S.
Professor Andrew Odlyzko of the University of Minnesota's Digital Technology Center has, among his many other interests, considered cybersecurity issues and the challenges that they pose. See this recent PowerPoint presentation titled How to Live and Prosper With Insecure Cyberinfrastructure. Related material is here.
How can this be? Some environmental activists and their Not In My Backyard (NIMBY) allies—who should be the strongest "green" energy supporters of all—are using every resource at their disposal to block, delay, or cancel clean energy projects. They have organized local opposition, changed zoning laws, opposed permits, filed lawsuits, and bled projects dry of their financing. Call it "green tape" bureaucracy. Their efforts are undermining job creation and slowing the adoption of environmentally friendly energy technologies.
President Obama touted the benefits of stimulus spending yesterday, announcing that 2,000 new projects to rebuild U.S. highways and bridges have already been approved under the stimulus plan.
Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood told a U.S. Chamber Aviation Summit audience that he is open to public-private partnerships on infrastructure projects.
Policymakers in Washington and around the country need to refocus their attention and direct more funds toward building a state-of-the-art aviation system, according to the U.S. Chamber.
According to a report released by the American Public Transportation Association (APTA) yesterday, public transportation ridership is at its highest level in 52 years. Unfortunately, this peak in ridership is not complemented by commensurate public investment. The American Society of Civil Engineers recently "awarded" U.S.
In with the coupons and comics Parade Magazine does a pretty good job on America's broken roads:
Chamber President and CEO Tom Donohue (l.) testifies on infrastructure funding.
Congress must pursue a long-term agenda to revamp the nation's crumbling highways, railways, waterways, and aviation system, Chamber President and CEO Tom Donohue told House members.
Even as the Obama administration tried to quell fears about the viability of major banks, the markets plummeted yesterday. After rallying at the opening bell, stocks slid to their lowest closing levels since 1997, with the Dow ending down 250.89 points, at 7114.78. Throughout the past week, investors around the world have grown increasingly concerned that an economic turnaround will not come until early next year.
Note: This is an update to our earlier post on NEPA and the stimulus.
If your business has gone through the environmental permitting and review process for any of its projects or operations, you know it takes time…a lot of time. Permits can tack on years, or even decades, to the delivery time of an infrastructure project.
Tom Donohue's commentary on shovel-ready infrastructure projects (uschamber.com Weekly, December 9, 2008) had readers talking. Visitors to www.uschambermagazine.com left these comments.
"Most people don't know that states already have $136 billion in ready-to-go infrastructure projects that are waiting for funding. Let's all work together to make it happen!"
—Marta Lomeli, San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce
Terry Neimeyer of KCI Technologies Inc. urged Congress to reauthorize the federal surface transportation program during a February 24 event at Chamber headquarters.
Transportation infrastructure spending in the stimulus bill is a good first step to creating new jobs and providing a spark to the sluggish economy, but Congress must also pursue a long-term solution, according to U.S. Chamber experts and members of the transportation industry.
The American Society of Civil Engineers has released their 2009 Report Card for America’s Infrastructure. The report estimates a $2.2 trillion cost for necessary repairs and upgrades to our infrastructure networks. Unfortunately, current funding mechanisms are unable to meet this challenge. The current surface transportation program expires on September 30, 2009, and Congress must use this critical opportunity to improve the programs and increase investment.
In our State of American Business report we called for government to streamline regulatory and licensing processes to allow, and encourage, private industry to make large capital commitments in infrastructure; a position we have reinforced in our letters to Congress regarding the pending stimulus bill.
Lisa Caruso generated a lot of good commentary at the National Journal with the question "What Can We Learn About Transportation From Beyond Our Borders?" Here were three themes I picked up:
First, we can't afford for Congress to say, "Been there, done that," after the stimulus...
From CleanTech a map of structurally deficient bridges in United States, scary stuff. There is a text table on the post with a state-by-state breakdown as well.
As reported by Reuters:
We have been pushing for long-term infrastructure investment for years, and infrastructure as stimulus for months (latest testimony); but it isn’t just business community saying it, all American's see the problems and demand solutions -- and are willing to pay for them. Frank Luntz from the L.A.
Tom Donohue testified today before the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee urging for investments in America’s transportation infrastructure:
Rebecca Wodder, president of American Rivers, the nation's leading river conservation organization, reflects on a recent water main break:
Janet Kavinoky, U.S. Chamber director of Transportation Infrastructure, leads a discussion during the Chamber's Infrastructure Summit on December 9. The Chamber used the occasion to unveil its infrastructure policy recommendations for the incoming administration and the 111th Congress. They call for modernizing and expanding the nation's transportation, energy, telecommunications, and water infrastructure.
Chamber President and CEO Tom Donohue asked Congress to consider raising the federal gasoline tax to pay for transportation infrastructure improvements.
Congress must look beyond the immediate infrastructure spending proposed in stimulus legislation and pursue a long-term federal transportation agenda to revamp the nation's crumbling highways, railways, waterways, and aviation system, Chamber President and CEO Tom Donohue told House members.
Rep. James L. Oberstar (D-MN)
Chairman, Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure
The U.S. Chamber released two statements from Tom Donohue today as President-elect Obama rounded out his team:
on the selection of former Dallas Mayor Ron Kirk to serve as U.S. Trade Representative:
by Brad Peck
Janet Kavinoky posted to the National Journal’s Transportation Experts blog yesterday:
Today in the Washington Post, Amity Shlaes uses Japan as a cautionary tale for infrastructure as stimulus. Yesterday at the U.S. Chamber, Gov. Ed Rendell acknowledged that argument and presented one of his own:
Tomorrow we will host "Taking the Challenge: Real Solutions for Rebuilding Our Critical Infrastructure", which will be streamed live starting at 9 a.m.
The Chamber's Peter Lawson (right) discusses the need for more infrastructure investment with Sen. Mary Landrieu (D-LA) during a December 9 event at the Chamber.
Thousands of "shovel-ready" infrastructure projects nationwide would be set in motion, creating new jobs and providing a spark to the sluggish economy, should Congress approve an economic stimulus plan supported by President-elect Barack Obama and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.
|
|
By Tom Donohue, President and CEO, U.S. Chamber of Commerce |
Just in time for the Thanksgiving crush our nation gained three new runways last week in Chicago, Washington D.C. and Seattle-Tacoma. We certainly need them, airline passenger traffic is expected to increase by 36% by 2015. The runways are a good example of the kind of long-term thinking and investment we need to strengthen America’s air traffic system and reduce delays for passengers and freight.
An interesting article, with a great lead:
The dozens of beefy men gather in a dark room, bending their knees, rolling their shoulders, and stretching to prepare for the day ahead. But this is no exercise room at the gym – it’s a Somerville construction site.
Modernizing and expanding America's infrastructure is imperative to ensuring that the U.S. economy remains competitive. However, without proper understanding of the challenges that face these improvement projects, and a shared knowledge of best-practices for solving these challenges, our infrastructure crisis cannot be solved.
TMCnet recently covered a new report by Connected Nation that:
The coveted America's Transportation Award (ATA) Grand Prize and the People's Choice Award were presented yesterday during a ceremony at the American Association of State Highway & Transportation Officials (AASHTO) Annual Meeting in Hartford, CT. Ten regional award winning projects were up for the top prizes.
The NextGen Energy Council released a study last week highlighting that "the U.S. faces significant risk of power brownouts and blackouts as early as next summer that may cost tens of billions of dollars and threaten lives." The U.S.
More than two million miles of underground water pipelines exist in the United States. According to the EPA there is a $540 billion gap in the money needed to maintain and renew this aging infrastructure. In July, David Chavern used the occasion of a U.S. Chamber event Water Infrastructure: Why Congressional Action is Urgently Needed to post:
Time is running out for our nation’s highway and public transportation programs. Today begins the one year countdown to the expiration of the existing highway and transit law, SAFETEA-LU. Signed into law in 2005, SAFETEA-LU fails to address many of the challenges that our transportation system faces today.
The Los Angeles Times had an editorial yesterday comparing the vastly different responses to the 9/11 attacks and the collapse of that Minneapolis bridge last year. While the two are not exactly comparable, the paper suggests our apathy regarding infrastructure could hurt in ways comparable to 9/11. The problems are three-fold, wrote the paper:
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce would like to praise the bipartisan action by Congress to immediately shore up the depleted Highway Trust Fund. The bill (HR 6532) transfers $8 billion from the General Fund to the Highway Trust Fund, ensuring there is no further disruption in highway reimbursements to the states and reestablishes certainty to the federal-aid highway program. By acting now, Congress avoided reducing or delaying spending that would have disrupted vital maintenance and improvement efforts already underway.
An important account in the federal Highway Trust Fund will run out of money this month, which could hamper completion of road and bridge construction projects across the country, Transportation Secretary Mary E. Peters said on Friday. Because the fund is draining away so fast, the Transportation Department will have to delay payments for the local projects, or reduce their amount, Ms. Peters said at a mid-day news conference....State transportation officials reacted to the announcement with alarm.
Road construction projects nationwide will be able to continue without the threat of federal funds being withheld or delayed. Urged by the Chamber, Congress on September 11 voted to shore up the depleted federal Highway Trust Fund with an infusion of $8 billion from the General Fund.
"If we fail to act now and implement new policies that will address our long-term transportation needs, we are going to severely harm the flow of goods, our mobility, our safety."
- Chamber President and CEO Tom Donohue quoted in Shipping Digest, July 7, 2008
The Chamber is calling for immediate action to help address the projected $4 billion shortfall in the Highway Trust Fund after Transportation Secretary Mary Peters warned that the fund would be out of cash within the next few weeks.
As our two Bandwagons cross the country a constant theme in the posts, and other emails sent in by our rolling business advocates is infrastructure. They are seeing, and hearing, first hand the problems of an aging transportation network. The U.S. Chamber has been pushing infrastructure awareness and solutions for quite some time now, most recently through our Let’s Rebuild America initiative.
We spent the morning in downtown Albany, New York today. Driving by the Old State Capital in the morning was oddly exciting and we enjoyed the river views from the hills. The Hudson is truly scenic; maybe we should get some painters together to document that fact.
Spending the morning at National Airport en route to Sacramento where I will be joining the VoteForBusiness Bandwagon to Denver. Mostly professional travelers early in the morning, people picking up their morning coffee, reading the paper and catching up on the sleep they didn't get last night, cursed Olympics.
After the AEGON events we went down to Inner Harbor in Baltimore yesterday, and talked to the...Red Sox fans? We tried not to jinx the O's by not parking directly next to the stadium, but they still dropped a game to Boston. While the day was hot, the booth was even hotter in signing up interested voters on issues that affect their daily lives. The bus, positioned 50 feet from the Visitors Center, was a magnet for Baltimorians, Red Sox fans, and conventioneers in town at the Baltimore Convention Center.
With these long western drives, on the Bandwagon to Denver, I am constantly reminded that our transportation systems are in terrible shape. This needs to be a priority for our presidential candidates. There is a lot of reading material on the bus, with a lot of information on transportation, and I have to say, considering how vital these systems are to our country and our economy, the statistics are sobering. We can’t afford to keep falling behind like this. From the briefing books:
Who pays for congestion?
One year ago, U.S. Chamber president and CEO Tom Donohue, kicked off the Let’s Rebuild America at the 10th Annual Transportation Summit in Irving, Texas. But why Texas for the rollout? Because Texas is a microcosm of the national infrastructure challenges that we have neglected for far too long.
We took I-10 into Texas, after the Lake Charles energy event yesterday, passing mile marker 880, the highest mile marker on the Interstate Highway System. A simple reminder coming from the East Coast of just how big Texas is. We weren’t going the whole way to El Paso though, just a hundred miles or so to Houston, before heading north to Dallas.
When people hear the word "infrastructure" their eyes start to glaze over. While infrastructure is may not be a sexy issue, it certainly impacts our daily lives.
Day in and day out, Americans drive on congested highways, stand on crowded public transit platforms, and wait for planes to taxi down the runway and take off. We witness our infrastructure challenges first-hand, but we put them on the backburner to deal with another day.
Lake Charles, Louisiana, is home to more than 70,000 people. Located between Houston, Texas, and New Orleans, the city is on the shore of the Calcasieu River, just 30 miles upstream from the Gulf of Mexico. Lake Charles has a lot to offer, including everything from glitzy nightclubs and casinos, to historic neighborhoods. We also hear that the hunting and fishing in the area cannot be beat.
Nearly three years post-Katrina the commercial neighborhoods of New Orleans are back on their feet and teeming with life. But this morning the VoteforBusiness Bandwagon rolls out of the French Quarter and heads toward the Upper Ninth Ward - site of the storm's greatest devastation - to support Habitat for Humanity workers' reconstruction efforts.
For the VoteForBusiness Bandwagon to Denver we were going to use this bus, to reflect our nation’s current infrastructure.
The Chamber commemorated the one-year anniversary of the collapse of the I-35 bridge in Minnesota by calling for additional state, local and federal investment, including Senate passage of $8 billion for the Highway Trust Fund. The House passed its version of the bill in late July.
The Chamber's Janet Kavinoky, executive director of the Americans for Transportation Mobility coalition, joined representatives from the transportation industry and the federal government at a July 31 press event in Minneapolis to discuss the nation's transportation infrastructure challenges.
Yesterday a new report by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) called the Bridging the Gap: Restoring and Rebuilding the Nation's Bridges presented:
the latest on the conditions, age and costs to repair and modernize the nation’s 590,000 bridges as well as key examples showcasing new inspection and construction technologies. Among its key findings:
Many things happened in the world yesterday, have a look. But we are going to take a ride in the short term memory machine to Kevin's morning news yesterday and the Wall Street Journal story which outlined that "an unprecedented cutback in driving is slashing the funds available to rebuild the nation's aging highway system and expand mass-transit options, even as costs for materials to build and maintain roa
Did you ever have to spend a lot of money on plumbing for your house? It is doubly annoying because once you have spent the money, the very best you can hope for is to get the house to just look and function like it did before the problem. For most people, having clean and readily available water is just one of those background assumptions that we make and hope to never have to think about.
by General James L. Jones, USMC (Ret.)
Our energy infrastructure is increasingly inadequate for our growing demand and economy. Blackouts, brownouts, service interruptions, and rationing could become commonplace without new and upgraded capacity. Critical energy infrastructure must also be adequately protected from both terrorist threats and natural disasters.
by General James L. Jones, USMC (Ret.)
Transportation in the United States is currently 96 percent reliant on petroleum. New technologies, ready for application, must be affordable and become commonplace.
Did you know that Washington State exports more goods to China that it imports? How about the fact that 90% of exported goods from the state come from small and medium-size businesses? Did you know that the Ports of Tacoma and Seattle support over 300,999 port-related jobs across the state? With statistics like these, it’s no wonder that trade and transportation are critical to workers, consumers, and businesses.
As expected, the House passed the huge housing bill yesterday and it is headed for the Senate, where approval is likely despite a filibuster threat from some Republicans. President Bush said he will sign the bill.
The U.S. Chamber sent the below letter to the Members of the U.S. House of Representatives strongly urging them:
to support H.R. 6532, which would address the looming shortfall in the Highway Trust Fund by transferring $8 billion from the General Fund to the Highway Trust Fund.
Last month we published the East Regional winners of the prestigious "America’s Transportation Award." (ATA). The transportation projects were judged according to their size in three categories; "Innovative management," "On Time" and "On Budget" construction.
In-Forum had an article today detailing the broadband aspects of our community forum in Fargo, North Dakota
There’s a need for better infrastructure in North Dakota and residents know it. In conjunction with the Monday’s Connect! event in Fargo, the Chamber is highlighting the state’s efforts to improve its telecommunications, energy, and transportation infrastructure.
TELECOMMUNICATIONS
There was a good editorial in Colorado last month about the shortfall in the Federal Highway Trust Fund and one today in Kansas. They read pretty similar; why?
Tehmina Haque is suing American Airlines over peanuts. Haque, whose son is allergic to peanuts, claims that she was assured several times that peanuts would not be served on her flight. Haque's son apparently did not suffer any allergic reaction, but she was stressed about the possibility and has sued the company. The airline says it never promises peanut-free flights.
Newsday, June 2, 2008
U.S. Chamber leaders held a July 21 event in Everett, Washington, to highlight the economic and competitive benefits of free and fair trade and a strong transportation infrastructure.
"[Pennsylvania Gov. Ed] Rendell (D) and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce are trying to make rebuilding infrastructure—including roads, bridges, airports, railroads, and ports—a national priority."
-Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, May 18, 2008
"... the jobs, the innovation, the future of this country are tied into the [nation's] 26 million small businesses, and we should never forget that."
-Chamber President and CEO Tom Donohue on "Fox Business Live," April 29, 2008
The U.S. Chamber stopped in Fargo, North Dakota, as part of its six-city road show to illustrate the benefits of more widely available broadband.
The July 14 forum was hosted by the Chamber, national nonprofit Connected Nation, and the Chamber of Commerce of Fargo Moorhead. North Dakota Lieutenant Governor Jack Dalrymple (R) delivered the keynote address.
The U.S. Chamber on July 24 applauded the House for passing legislation to transfer $8 billion from the General Fund to the Highway Trust Fund, which finances much needed surface transportation projects. The 387-37 vote is a wide enough margin to override a veto threatened by the White House.
America's infrastructure—the transportation, energy, and telecommunications networks that constitute the physical platform of our economy—is showing its age. Without proper investment in these networks, the nation's economy, job-producing ability, and competitiveness are seriously threatened.
The U.S. Chamber is ramping up efforts and leveraging additional resources around Let's Rebuild America, its initiative to strengthen and expand the nation's physical platform.
The failure of the U.S. transportation network to meet the needs of a growing population and economy is already having an impact on everything from safety to the environment, from quality of life to economic growth. We must immediately reform the approach we take for funding, planning, and building infrastructure so that we can keep people and goods moving across the country and around the world.
This morning U.S.
SEC Chairman Christopher Cox is under fire in a front page story in today’s WSJ for his handling of the Bear Stearns situation. According to the story, Cox missed several conference calls concerning the bailout negotiations.
And now our final Northeast Region winner of an America's Transportation Award.
Winner for “On Time” – Medium Project
Maryland Department of Transportation
State Route 70 Rowe Boulevard Bridge, Annapolis, MD.
Admit it, when you think of a government project the words "on budget" don't leap to mind, but here is our next regional winner of an America's Transportation Award.
Winner for "On Budget" – Medium Project
Pennsylvania Department of Transportation
Route 830 Airport Access Project, Jefferson County, PA
Roads & Bridges featured America's Transportation Award, have a look. Now for the winner for "Innovative Management" – Medium Project:
New York Department of Transportation
Frederick Douglass Susan B. Anthony Memorial Bridge, Rochester, NY
Yesterday, in "Transportation Projects Improving America", Janet Kavinoky introduced the first Northeast Region winner of the prestigious "America’s Transportation Award". She sent me a post for the next winner, but I feel compelled to jump her copy and add my own story here.
A cliff hanger highway, a floating bridge considered to be a technological marvel and an economic lifeline are among the outstanding transportation projects winning the prestigious "America’s Transportation Award." (ATA)
The SEIU is calling on people to attend rallies on July 17 in 100 cities in 25 countries to protest tactics used by private equity firms. The union argues that buyout executives like David Rubenstein of Carlyle and Henry Kravis of Kohlberg Kravis have gamed the tax code, reaping huge gains by piling debt on companies their firms have acquired, only to deduct the interest from their corporate taxes.
The London Telegraph reports that the Obama camp is trying to ease Clinton out of the race by promising her a chance to pilot health care reforms through the Senate, a cabinet post if she wants, and the retiring of her campaign debts totaling $12 million.
U.S. Chamber President and CEO Tom Donohue announces the FasterBetterSafer campaign.
Business, labor, and transportation leaders came together in Washington, D.C., on June 23 to launch the FasterBetterSafer campaign, a grassroots effort aimed at putting pressure on leaders across the nation to increase transportation infrastructure funding.
The U.S. Chamber and two transportation groups joined together this week to honor outstanding transportation projects across the United States.
The Chamber, AAA and the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (ASHTO) awarded their "America's Transportation Award" this week to transportation departments in five states in the Northeast region. Projects were judged according to their size in three categories, "Innovative Management," "On Time," and "On Budget."
| By Thomas J. Donohue, President and CEO, U.S. Chamber of Commerce |
As mentioned in Kevin's morning news brief:
"Railway executive Matthew Rose stood before fellow industry leaders, pointing to a map meant to tell the future of the U.S. rail freight network. It was drenched in red — east to west, north to south.
The blotches illustrated areas where, by 2035, traffic jams could be so severe that trains would grind to a halt for days with nowhere to go.
The latest polls show Obama ahead by about 12 points in Oregon, and Clinton up by about 30 points in Kentucky. There is an uncertainty factor in the Oregon predictions as Oregonians are voting by mail and started casting ballots May 1. Obama is headed to Iowa this evening for a major rally to celebrate the fact that he will have won an absolute majority of pledged delegates.
I have the privilege of being back home in Pittsburgh today, and to participate in the Pennsylvania Chamber’s Voice of Business Tour. I didn’t want to miss this opportunity to get away from Redskins fans for a day to be among my fellow Steelers faithful.
Pennsylvania has the 17th largest economy in the world, with a $510 billion GDP. More than 5,100 miles of railways and 120,000 miles of highways keep Pennsylvania’s products and passengers moving. However, improvement in Pennsylvania’s transportation infrastructure and more reliable and cost-effective transportation services can increase the prosperity of its key industries and bolster local job growth. Without additional infrastructure investment and stronger transportation programs, Pennsylvania’s ability to compete in the national economy will suffer.
In separate speeches before key stakeholders this week, Chamber President and CEO Tom Donohue and Senior Vice President and COO David Chavern highlighted the economic and competitive benefits of strong transportation and infrastructure systems and called for a national plan to address the issue.
Tom Donohue was on FOX Business last week discussing the Colombia trade agreement, infrastructure and the dangers of isolationism.
As reported by the Regional Plan Association - which covers New York, New Jersey and Connecticut - Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi recently hit the nail on the head regarding a key challenge facing efforts to renew and rebuild our Nation’s infrastructure.
The U.S. Chamber, in partnership with Americans for Transportation Mobility, released a report today which studied "the linkages between the capacity and performance of the nation’s transportation system and U.S. economic productivity, competitiveness, and growth"
Testimony by Gen. Petraeus and continued fighting in Basra are thrusting Iraq back onto the national political stage. Petraeus is expected to recommend a pause in the withdrawal of troops from Iraq after July, when the troop levels will be lowered to roughly the number deployed before the “surge.” He’ll also likely focus on the unhelpful role Iran is playing, especially in southern Iraq, where their influence is strong.
Brian O'Neill of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette had an interesting column today on infrastructure and infrastructure "war bonds." He is absolutely right about the need to direct more investment toward infrastructure and, more importantly, to enroll individuals and help them to better understand the infrastructure challenges we face as nation. As the U.S.
In a nationwide effort to make technology work for people, business, and communities, the U.S. Chamber and national nonprofit Connected Nation, Inc., have kicked off a six-city road show to illustrate the benefits of more widely available broadband.
The Connect! campaign will create a national dialogue on how broadband technology can create a better business environment, more effective economic development, improved healthcare, enhanced education, and more efficient government.
America's transportation infrastructure, an essential ingredient for a strong and vibrant economy, has fallen into such disrepair that it is now threatening the competitiveness of key sectors of the U.S. economy, according to a report released by the U.S. Chamber and its coalition, Americans for Transportation Mobility, on April 8.
Ricardo Harvin
E-mail questions for Tech Tools to techtools@uschamber.com.
Measuring the effectiveness of a marketing campaign, no matter what media you use, is an important yet elusive endeavor. Data are often unreliable, and changes in how they are broken down and interpreted are constantly occurring.
The heads of two U.S. airlines clashed over whether the industry should consolidate to counter soaring costs and stiffer competition during separate speeches at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce's annual aviation summit on April 3.
Glenn F. Tilton, chairman, president and CEO of United Airlines and its parent company UAL Corp.,, said that "consolidation makes sense," particularly when foreign carriers are actively merging their assets. "Airlines are playing a vital role in creating a flatter world," Tilton told an audience of 175 government and business representatives.
Whether you consider commercial travel, air cargo, military aviation, or business and private travel, the aviation industry is an essential component of our domestic economy and our everyday lives. However, challenges and changes lie on aviation’s horizon which must be understood and resolved to ensure this vital industry continues to grow and succeed.
I was in Michigan last fall to visit GM’s headquarters. Some of its executives were kind enough to pick me up at the airport. They came in a hybrid SUV, which gets about 50% better gas mileage in the city than GM’s nonhybrid models.
Michigan is a key economic contributor to our nation with over 40 commercial ports — eight more than the other seven Great Lakes states combined. Improvement in Michigan’s transportation infrastructure, and more reliable and cost-effective transportation services, can contribute to the prosperity and competitiveness of its key industries. Without increased infrastructure investment and stronger transportation programs, Michigan’s ability to compete in the national and global economies will suffer.
On March 11th I had the privilege of testifying before the Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee regarding the condition of our nation’s infrastructure and proposals for needed improvements. Below are some of the key points I was able to present. The full testimony is available here.
My little "on this date" calendar tells me that on March 14, 1950 the FBI began releasing their "10 Most Want Fugitives" list; which is online now.
To commemorate this little bit of public relations, here is Chamber's "10 Most Wanted" as of today, in no particular order.
Let’s start with money … There was a huge rally on Wall Street yesterday, with the Dow soaring 416 points, it’s best one day gain in 5 1/2 years. Investors welcomed news that the Fed will lend up to $200 billion to banks and lenders.
AFL-CIO Union Movement Embarks on Massive Drive for Employee Free Choice - promises to respect democracy in the morning
After Traveling to Colombia, Free-Trade Sentiment - Bi-partisan support for Colombia
After 25 years in the House, Rep. Steny Hoyer (D-MD) was voted House Majority Leader after the Democrats won control in the November 2006 elections. Sheryll Poe, uschamber.com staff writer, sat down with the majority leader to discuss the Democrats' progress so far and the business agenda ahead.
uschamber.com: How would you summarize the Democrats' first session in terms of small business?
The U.S. Chamber is urging members of the Senate to make comprehensive, long-term Federal Aviation Administration reauthorization legislation a priority this year.
Such a bill "will help provide the resources necessary to help our country meet the current and growing demands being placed on the aviation system," according to a March 5 letter to members of Congress that was signed by the Chamber and 35 aviation and business organizations.
|
|
By Thomas J. Donohue, President and CEO, U.S. Chamber of Commerce |
The Chamber ramped up its efforts to educate Congress on the need for a modern, safe and efficient transportation system. Chamber Director Janet Kavinoky testified on infrastructure needs and the role of transportation in the economy at a Senate hearing on March 11. On the same day, the Chamber submitted written comments in support of the Department of Transportation's Cross-Border Truck Pilot Program.
The U.S. Chamber kicked off a multimillion dollar nationwide grassroots and advocacy campaign to build support for additional investment in America's transportation infrastructure and to highlight the link between a robust infrastructure and increased trading opportunities.
When we talk about security, inevitably the word energy comes up. It is truly a global challenge that we face, and these terms - energy and security - are becoming synonymous.
Energy security is among the most critical issues facing our nation, and in particular our next administration.
To us, energy security is about families, businesses, and governments, who need and count on a steady supply of fuel and power from a broad range of sources.
On Wednesday the Senate Environment and Public Works committee held a hearing on a very significant report that details a new vision and several interesting policy and funding proposals for highways and public transportation. I had the opportunity to testify at the hearing and give the Chamber’s initial reaction to the report.
Janet Kavinoky, Director of Transportation Infrastructure at the Chamber, went before the U.S. Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works yesterday to discuss surface transportation needs and funding.
The Chamber's Director of Transportation Infrastructure, Janet Kavinoky, responded to a recent congressional surface transportation report in testimony before the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works on February 6.
Kavinoky outlined consequences of the nation's failure to increase infrastructure investment and called for a comprehensive national transportation plan that includes federal government partnerships with state and local governments.
There weren’t too many surprises in President Bush’s State of the Union address last night. As expected, he focused on the economic stimulus package, clamping down on earmarks, the war on terrorism, and other unfinished business. One of the more significant new proposals was a $300 million initiative to help provide choices for kids trapped in struggling inner-city public schools. Bush expressed concern about the declining number of faith-based and parochial schools in inner cities and in low-income neighborhoods.
Dear Governor Schwarzenegger, Governor Rendell and Mayor Bloomberg:
Congratulations on establishing the new Building America’s Future infrastructure coalition. You are on the right page. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is strongly supportive of transportation, energy and communications infrastructure modernization and expansion under our Let's Rebuild America program. The Chamber, along with many major companies, is also working with the RAND Corporation Supply Chain Policy Center on a project to assess all of our nation’s infrastructure needs.
Today, Thomas J. Donohue, President and CEO of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, released a statement on the Report of the National Surface Transportation Policy and Revenue Study Commission which read in part:
“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.
- The National Surface Transportation Policy and Revenue Board is urging the government to raise federal gasoline taxes by as much as 40 cents per gallon over five years to ease traffic congestion and repair infrastructure. Under the recommendation, the current tax would be increased annually for five years -- by anywhere from 5 cents to 8 cents each year -- and then indexed to inflation afterward. The commission was formed by Congress in 2005.
The time has come for a renewed commitment to consistency and quality in America's infrastructure. With each passing day, our bridges, roads, and rails are losing the capacity to handle a growing population and economy.
One-third of our major roads are in poor or mediocre condition, and a quarter of our bridges are structurally deficient or functionally obsolete. The U.S. aviation system is incapable of efficiently handling the current passenger load, much less the 1 billion customers expected by 2015.
Tomorrow I will be delivering my annual State of American Business address, laying out the Chamber's agenda for the year ahead; so I wanted to reflect today on the major policy victories in Congress and in the Regulatory Agencies the Chamber, working with many organizations, companies, coalitions, and legislators, helped win in 2007.
Next Tuesday, January 8th, I will be delivering my annual State of American Business address, laying out the Chamber's agenda for the year ahead.
About a month ago I gave a presentation entitled “Navigating the Supply Chain: a First Hand Look at Movement through Our Ports and Borders” (View Powerpoint) at a NCF symposium entitled “Protecting Our Competitive Edge: Supply Chain Bottlenecks and the U.S. Economy”.
Taxpayers would be outraged to learn how much of the money they pay in user-fees for roads, the aviation system, and other transportation systems are diverted to non-infrastructure projects like childhood obesity programs, "bridges to nowhere," or rain forest museums in Iowa. Politicians should start paying a price when they skim money from dedicated transportation funds to pay for projects of their own choosing. It breaks trust with the taxpayers who expect their user fees to go toward their intended purposes.
In recent months I’ve been traveling around the country delivering a series of speeches on challenges America must meet and master in order to succeed in a tough global economy. Together, these challenges comprise the Chamber’s competitiveness agenda. Over the next five years – and beyond – we plan to focus extraordinary resources to advance these issues because they hold the key to our nation’s future economic success.
Balancing security and the facilitation of trade continues to be a challenge six years after 9/11, according to Ralph Basham, U.S. Customs and Border Protection Commissioner. "In my mind, security and commerce are not mutually exclusive," Basham said while highlighting CBP efforts to improve movement of cargo and passengers. Basham also said a new regulation requiring 100% scanning needs "to be examined."
Ricardo Harvin
E-mail questions for Tech Tools to techtools@uschamber.com.
The Chamber hosted its second event in an informational series that tackles the technological challenges and opportunities within the biofuels industry. Chamber experts, government officials, and industry representatives discussed ways to improve the existing transportation system and infrastructure investments needed to meet increasing levels of biofuels production.
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce applauded the Senate for passing a tax moratorium on Internet purchases and access for seven years before the current moratorium expired on November 1. The House will now consider the Senate legislation, which goes further than the recently approved House bill to extend the moratorium for four years. The Chamber supports a permanent ban on Internet taxes.
Citing chronic underinvestment, misuse of funding, and poor planning, U.S. Chamber of Commerce Director of Transportation and Infrastructure Policy Janet Kavinoky made the case before Congress on the pressing need for improvements to transportation infrastructure and the funding required to meet those needs.
Public-Private Partnerships Are Essential
by Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS)
Protecting our critical infrastructure is vitally important to the nation's security. The private sector is an essential partner in protecting our nation from the threat of terrorism and natural disasters–and helping it restore necessary services in the aftermath of such events.
The Chamber urged Senate leaders this week to permit a vote on permanently extending the tax moratorium on Internet access when the Senate considers H.R. 3678, the Internet Tax Freedom Act of 2007. The House approved H.R. 3678, which only temporarily extends the moratorium another four years through November 2011, by a vote of 405-2 last week.
| By Thomas J. Donohue, President and CEO, U.S. Chamber of Commerce |
It's been several months now since the tragic collapse of the I-35 bridge in Minneapolis. That terrible event did help serve one useful purpose—it focused the attention of our citizens and elected leaders on the need for greater investment in our crumbling infrastructure.
Chamber Launches Major Initiative
|
The Let's Rebuild America initiative, announced by Chamber President and CEO Tom Donohue in Irving, Texas, less than two weeks after the Minneapolis bridge collapse, is a response to the dramatic decline of the nation's transportation, energy, communications, and water infrastructure systems. |
 |
Sen. Christopher J. Dodd (D-CT) |
 |
Sen. Chuck Hagel (R-NE) |
Sites Allow Customers to Vent and Compare
by Ricardo Harvin
The explosion of the Web as a tool to research and compare products and services has led to a growing number of sites that allow consumers to share their experiences with one another. Although these resources aren't perfect, their increasing popularity and usefulness make them difficult for small businesses to ignore.
Congress is back in session hoping to finish work on a number of legislative items before presidential election-year politics take hold. Here is a look at some of the Chamber's immediate policy priorities:
Senate approval of a transportation infrastructure spending bill and urge congressional consideration of a bill to create an independent national bank that would identify, evaluate, and help finance infrastructure projects.
The Chamber's Director of Transportation and Infrastructure Janet Kavinoky spoke on the importance of transportation infrastructure to the American business community and outlined the priorities of the Chamber's new Let's Rebuild America initiative during a daylong hearing of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. The Chamber is calling for more public-private partnerships and consideration of an increase in the federal gasoline user fee, among other financing options.
The U.S. Chamber's latest 60-Second Advocate will be featured throughout the month of September on CNN monitors at Washington Dulles International Airport and Ronald Reagan National Airport. The ads feature Chamber President and CEO Tom Donohue's recent speech on the need to repair and commit adequate resources to the nation's failing infrastructure and transportation systems.
The U.S. Chamber this week called on the House and Senate to pass H.R. 743 and S. 156, the Permanent Internet Tax Freedom Act. The bills would permanently extend the moratorium on the creation of new, multiple, or discriminatory taxes that are unique to the Internet, such as a "bit tax" on information moving over the Internet. The current moratorium is set to expire on November 1. These two bills, which are currently in committees, would make the moratorium permanent.
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce, on the occasion of President and CEO Tom Donohue's 10th anniversary as head of the organization, is charting a multiyear agenda to enhance America's competitiveness. The major components of this agenda are listed below.
Expand the Workforce. The Chamber will lead efforts to expand and improve the pool of available and qualified workers through comprehensive immigration and visa reform and better education, especially in math and science.
As Congress takes up comprehensive energy legislation, the U.S. Chamber is advancing policies to increase energy efficiency and conservation, ensure affordable and reliable supplies, and promote economic and national security. Here are the Chamber's positions on the key components of pending energy legislation:
U.S. Chamber President and CEO Tom Donohue announced the launch of a major initiative to lead the effort to solve the current infrastructure crisis in America during a speech last week at the Transportation 2007 Summit in Irving, Texas.
The "Let's Rebuild America" initiative will focus on documenting the problem, educating the public, stakeholders and policymakers, and discuss all financing options, including public and private investment.
|
|
By Thomas J. Donohue, President and CEO, U.S. Chamber of Commerce |
| By Thomas J. Donohue, President and CEO, U.S. Chamber of Commerce |
Exploding steam pipes ... collapsing bridges ... rolling blackouts. What more evidence do Americans require that our vast infrastructure needs must be met before additional catastrophes occur?
|
Sen. John J. Sununu (R-NH) |
By Rep. Anna Eshoo (D-CA)
Imagine for a moment that every time an American walks into a shopping mall, reads their daily newspaper, or browses the racks at their local music store, they would have to pay a tax. That's the digital reality we face without the moratorium on discriminatory or duplicative state or local taxes on Internet access and e-commerce.
By Ricardo Harvin
E-mail questions for Tech Tools to techtools@uschamber.com.
Ben Straley
Principal, Spring Creek Group
www.springcreekgroup.com/
From left to right: the Chamber's Carol Hallett, FAA Administrator Marion Blakey, Transportation Secretary Mary Peters, and the Chamber's Janet Kavinoky discuss transportation issues.
The U.S. Chamber's National Chamber Foundation (NCF) brought together representatives from the aviation industry, government officials, and system users to rally behind important upcoming aviation issues during its "Aviation 2007: Ready for Takeoff" summit on April 4.
The Chamber of Commerce last week applauded the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) decision to commence a Notice of Inquiry on broadband industry practices.
The inquiry will help the FCC compile a fact-based record on the issues surrounding broadband and so-called "net neutrality"—a proposal that would regulate how billions of dollars worth of communication infrastructure is used and paid for.
By Thomas J. Donohue, President and CEO, U.S. Chamber of Commerce
Increasingly congested highways harm our quality of life, hinder business productivity and growth, and pose a threat to human safety and the environment.
We need a new vision for transportation in the 21st century. It is imperative that we build and maintain a modern and interconnected transportation system capable of meeting growing demand. That requires careful thought, planning, and-importantly-money.
The Chamber's Carol Hallett leads efforts to expand and improve U.S. aviation.
Flight cancellations and delays, overcrowded airports, and long waits on the tarmac are common experiences for today's airline travelers.
The U.S. Chamber unveiled new initiatives on energy and transportation as part of a broader strategy to build a more competitive economy that supports business, creates jobs, and promotes economic security.
The announcement came during the January 4 release of the Chamber's The State of American Business report, an annual assessment of the economy, business challenges, and opportunities.
In the coming year, the Chamber will proactively advance a number of pro-growth proposals, launch a vigorous defense against anti-business proposals, and pursue far-reaching competitive reforms that extend well beyond the halls of Congress. Below is a brief overview of the Chamber's policy priorities:
| By Thomas J. Donohue, President and CEO, U.S. Chamber of Commerce |
|
Rep. Tom Petri (R-WI) |
By Ricardo Harvin
E-mail questions for Tech Tools to rharvin@uschamber.com.
In the online world, there's not much that will kill customer confidence faster than a Web site that obviously hasn't been updated in months–or years. On top of that, stale Web sites tend to get ranked lower by search engines than similar Web sites that are kept fresh with meaningful content.
By Ricardo Harvin
E-mail questions for Tech Tools to rharvin@uschamber.com
As the number of people who use search engines grows, and as advertisers find that television, radio, and print ads are becoming less effective at generating sales, online advertising is becoming mainstream.
By Ricardo Harvin
E-mail questions for Tech Tools or E-Sources to rharvin@uschamber.com.
Each month more than one billion people use search engines to research a product or service online and to find a local business where they can walk in and make the actual purchase.
|
Walter B. McCormick, Jr. President and CEO, United States Telecom Association Recently, several local jurisdictions have announced plans to invest taxpayer dollars into government-owned and operated telecommunications enterprises that would compete with existing telecom, wireless, cable, and high-speed Internet networks. |
By Roger Thompson
Director of Malicious Content Research, Computer Associates
These views are soley the author's.
|
Norman Y. Mineta |
On any typical day in 2004, 23 million Americans were online either making or researching a purchase, according to the Pew Internet & American Life project.
