Chamber Lobbies Congress on Transportation

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.

Speaking before the Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs committee, Kavinoky called for a “national plan,” that includes “a multi-modal and intermodal approach that supports competition in the global economy.” Kavinoky also noted that there is no single answer on how to finance such a plan and called for an “honest national dialogue on how and where we are going to find the public money to meet critical infrastructure needs.”

Separately, the Chamber submitted testimony to the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation committee in support of the Cross-Border Truck Pilot Program, which allows a limited number of approved trucks from Mexico and the United States to temporarily operate within each other’s borders. “The pilot program is an important step to enhance North America’s competitiveness, reduce congestion and pollution at the border, and promote economic growth,” the Chamber wrote. 

The Chamber praised the efficacy of the program and called on Congress to make available the required funds to ensure that safety inspections of trucks on the U.S.-Mexico border are carried out. 

Read the testimony.

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