DELAURO CALLS FOR ACTION ON TRANSPORTATION FUNDING

Washington, DC— Congresswoman Rosa L. DeLauro (CT-3) visited the Moses Wheeler Bridge replacement project in Stratford today, calling for stronger federal investment in transportation infrastructure. The Congresswoman was joined by Stratford Mayor John Harkins, Milford Mayor Ben Blake, Don Shubert, President Construction Industries Association, and Chris Cozzi of the International Union of Operating Engineers Local 478.

Congresswoman DeLauro helped to secure the funding in the current surface transportation bill, which provides federal funding for highways and other surface transportation infrastructure projects around the country, necessary to begin replacement the aging Moses Wheeler Bridge. This critical link in the northeast corridor is traveled by over 130,000 people each day, and in need of serious repair.

The current surface transportation bill expires at the end of the month, but efforts by the House majority party to reauthorize it included significant cuts in funding to the states. In its current form, the bill would mean over $66 million in cuts for Connecticut in just the next two years. Another bipartisan bill moving through the Senate would increase transportation funding for Connecticut by $10.1 million in the next two years. Congresswoman DeLauro supports a longer-term reauthorization that maintains funding for Connecticut, and is fighting to keep the House version from becoming law.

"Investing in our infrastructure is about whether America can grow and compete. It is about whether we are going to continue to produce middle class jobs that cannot be outsourced and middle class incomes here in America. I am proud to have fought for federal funding to aid in the rebuilding of the Moses Wheeler Bridge, and believe that we need more investment in infrastructure, starting with a strong surface transportation bill," said Congresswoman DeLauro.

"In addition to this, for over 15 years, I have been pushing for the creation of a national infrastructure bank, to leverage private capital toward public infrastructure projects," she continued. "I believe an infrastructure bank could be a game-changer for public investment in this country. It could create millions of jobs, help alleviate our massive infrastructure deficit and help states struggling to make their budgets work.

"I am so pleased to see the progress that has been made on the new Moses Wheeler Bridge. When completed, the new bridge will revitalize this area, help local businesses to grow, give a sizable boost to our local economy and improve our way of life. And it will help Stratford flourish for decades to come. What is true of this bridge is true of projects all across Connecticut, and all across America. If we invest more in our state and national infrastructure, we can create more good American jobs, revitalize our economy, and restore the conditions for long-term prosperity."