WASHINGTON, D.C. (January 31, 2011) Today, Chairman John Mica (R-FL) of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee introduced legislation for reauthorizing the federal surface transportation program. The BlueGreen Alliance released the following statement from Executive Director David Foster:

“America needs to jumpstart the work of rebuilding our nation’s much-neglected transportation and transit system – an incredibly important step in achieving our number one national priority: putting America to work. But the bill introduced by Chairman Mica and the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee does not get the job done for the American people.

“The House proposal cuts investment, disregards established programs that promote U.S. industries and create American jobs, and links infrastructure investment to increased energy consumption. This approach does little to bolster America’s ability to compete effectively with Europe and China, which are fast outpacing us in modernizing their transportation networks.

“Meanwhile, the Senate started this important work last year, and is now putting the finishing touches on a bipartisan bill that will create jobs rebuilding our transportation and transit systems. While the Senate’s approach could use improvement to provide a long-term roadmap for a 21^st century transportation system, it is a step in the right direction and aims to fund transportation investments in a fiscally sound manner.

“In the coming weeks, we hope to see meaningful progress moving the surface transportation bill forward, and that it will be a robustly funded, fiscally sound 21st century infrastructure vision. Such an effort has the potential to help create millions of jobs, reduce pollution and break our dependence on foreign oil. It’s time to get to work on a bill that will meet these objectives and prepare the nation to compete in the global economy.”