Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/117833
View from the Hill Transportation: Lifeblood of the U.S. Economy Ensuring the smooth movement of people and products is a collaborative necessity between local, federal governments. By Congressman Bill Shuster (R-Pa.) Transportation is the lifeblood of the American economy and our way of life. It is about how we get to work, take our children to school, visit with our family and friends, and get to the store to buy food, clothing and other necessities. Transportation is also about business. It is a critical part of how the supply chain functions, how raw materials get to factories, how finished products get to markets, how food gets from farms to our kitchens, and how energy products move from production areas to consuming areas. An efficient national transportation network allows businesses to lower transportation costs, which in turn lowers production costs and costs to consumers. It allows American businesses to be competitive in the global marketplace and for our economy to prosper and grow. Our national transportation system also binds us together. As President Dwight D. Eisenhower observed, without the unifying force of transportation, ���we would be a mere alliance of many separate parts.��� Early in our nation���s history, the Articles of Confederation failed because they provided no means for Congress to regulate commerce between the states. This weakness was underscored by a dispute between Maryland and Virginia regarding navigation rights on the Potomac River, which prohibited the nation from ensuring a coordinated system of canals and portage roads across the Allegheny Mountains. Adam Smith, the father of modern economics and author of the ���Wealth of Nations,��� argued the three essential duties of government are to provide security, preserve justice, and erect and maintain public works to facilitate commerce. Our founding fathers also understood the important role of the national government in carrying out these responsibilities. They wisely remedied the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation in Article 1, Section 8 of the Constitution, which directs Congress to establish post roads and to regulate interstate commerce. In doing so they laid the groundwork for connecting the country through trade and travel and recognized the critical role of a robust infrastructure network. Throughout our history, from the Transcontinental Railroad to the Panama Canal to the Interstate Highway System, Congress has continued to invest in infrastructure to ensure the connectivity of the nation and to support the needs of the American economy and the American people. We are continuing that work in the 113th Congress. The House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure is taking the lead in promoting legislation to address our nation���s port and waterways infrastructure needs through a Water Resources Development Act. Inland waterways and seaports link our nation directly to the global economy and our country���s export potential directly depends on the ability to get goods to market. Additional Committee priorities include finding more cost-effective and innovative approaches to delivering modern and efficient passenger rail service, as well as ensuring we move forward with important aviation modernization reforms to reduce air traffic delays, cut down on emission and pollution, and lower costs for consumers. We must also prepare for the next long-term surface transportation bill. Our national surface transportation network is the foundation on which our economy and our way of life are built. Without significant improvements to this network, and additional reforms to federal programs, transportation will become increasingly inefficient and unreliable, will be a drag on our economy, and will hurt the ability of our businesses to remain competitive in the global economy. We cannot let this happen and we must modernize our national transportation systems. Strengthening our transportation infrastructure is a shared responsibility, from the local level to the federal government. By working together and building consensus on what is best for the future of our nation, we can promote competitiveness, prosperity and economic growth. Congressman Shuster is in his seventh term representing Pennsylvania���s 9th congressional district. He serves as chairman of the House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee. April 2013 | Construction Equipment Distribution | www.cedmag.com | 53 53_view from the hill_KP.indd 53 3/25/13 2:18 PM