Washington, DC – Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), along with the other minority members of the Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee, has requested a meeting with Elaine Chao, Secretary of the Department of Transportation (DOT), so that she can share details regarding the Trump Administration’s long-awaited infrastructure investment plan.
At a hearing before the EPW Committee in May, Secretary Chao stated that the Administration’s infrastructure principles would be released at the end of May and would be followed by a legislative proposal in the third quarter of 2017. Despite the President’s frequent campaign promise to focus on investing $1 trillion in our nation’s crumbling infrastructure, the administration has yet to communicate any infrastructure proposals to Democratic committee members.
In a letter led by Ranking Member Tom Carper (D-Del.), the lawmakers wrote, “[President Trump’s] message was one that resonated with the American voters, just as it appealed to us as members of Congress, eager to lay the foundation for investments that would create jobs, improve our economy, and enhance the quality of life in communities throughout the country. Senate Democrats have put forward our own ‘Blueprint to Rebuild America’s Infrastructure,’ which would invest $1 trillion in our nation’s infrastructure, creating over 15 million American jobs. We stand ready to work with our Republican colleagues on a significant infrastructure effort such as the one we have proposed.”
“We request that you and any other appropriate Administration officials meet with us to share the Administration’s long-awaited infrastructure plan. Following quickly thereafter, we would hope that you will be able to formally transmit the Administration’s plan to Congress so that we may understand the Administration’s priorities as we get to work on developing a comprehensive infrastructure investment package.”
Senators Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Bernard Sanders (I-Vt.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), and Kamala Harris (D-Calif.) also signed the letter.
The text of the letter to Secretary Chao is available below and here.
September 28, 2017
Dear Secretary Chao,
We are writing to request that you meet with us to share progress on and available details of the Administration’s infrastructure plan.
As you know, providing investments for our nation’s infrastructure is one of the most important roles of the Federal government. Both during his campaign and since assuming office, President Trump has repeatedly indicated the priority he places on infrastructure investment. He called for new investments of a trillion dollars to repair badly degraded infrastructure, from roads and bridges, to transit and ports, to water pipes and broadband. This message was one that resonated with the American voters, just as it appealed to us as members of Congress, eager to lay the foundation for investments that would create jobs, improve our economy, and enhance the quality of life in communities throughout the country.
In May of this year, we were honored to have you appear before the Environment and Public Works Committee to discuss your priorities and efforts as Secretary of Transportation to improve our nation’s infrastructure. At that time, we were heartened to hear you pledge to work on infrastructure in a bipartisan, collaborative manner with members of Congress. You indicated that the Administration would be sending principles for infrastructure investment to Congress for our consideration in the third quarter of this year. Since then, you have reiterated your promise that the Administration’s collaboration on infrastructure would begin in the Fall.
We request that you and any other appropriate Administration officials meet with us to share the Administration’s long-awaited infrastructure plan. Following quickly thereafter, we would hope that you will be able to formally transmit the Administration’s plan to Congress so that we may understand the Administration’s priorities as we get to work on developing a comprehensive infrastructure investment package.
We look forward to hearing from you soon and to meeting with you and members of your team shortly thereafter. Thank you very much.
Sincerely yours,
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