Tom Foss (Griffith Company, Brea, Calif.) testified on transportation investments before Senate Environment and Public Works Committee.
Tom Foss, president of Griffith Company, Brea, Calif., on the importance of transportation investments to the national economy.
Foss emphasized that the construction industry, like other businesses, relies on a well-functioning transportation system for delivery of materials and products to job sites and, therefore, called for increased investment. Foss pointed out that unemployment in the construction industry is currently more than 24 percent and that additional highway and transportation investment is needed to remedy this situation. AGC's testimony pointed out that transportation funding in the stimulus legislation has saved construction jobs, but that more funding was needed. Foss also called for enactment of a long term SAFETEA-LU reauthorization with increased funding to bring long-term economic growth and certainty to the highway construction market. EPW Committee Chair Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.) said she is committed to getting a six-year highway bill completed this year. She called the hearing the first step in accomplishing this goal.
For more information, contact Brian Deery at (703) 837-5319 or deeryb@agc.org.