A new opportunity

Dear Friends,

Recently, I was chosen by my colleagues to assume the chairmanship of the Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee on the Environment and Public Works Committee (EPW).  This change in my leadership role is bittersweet because it meant stepping down from my chairmanship of the Clean Air and Nuclear Safety Subcommittee, which has jurisdiction over issues that are of great importance to me and Delaware. My new position, though, will give me the opportunity to engage in one of the most critical issues facing our nation today: our crumbling infrastructure.  I’m excited to share with you some of the key policies I will be working on in my new leadership role:

• My most urgent priority is a long-term solution to the insolvency confronting the Highway Trust Fund so we have the resources we need to make smart investments in highways, transit, and other transportation projects that help to grow commerce and boost our economy.

• I will engage with my colleagues to improve our national transportation policies so that we’re getting the most bang for our taxpayer dollars and investing in the best projects to help move people and goods where they need to go efficiently and affordably.

• I will work to make critical investments in key water infrastructure initiativesthat are important to the First State, such as the Delaware River Main Channel Deepening and flood control and resilience projects to protect against extreme weather.

During this challenging time for our federal transportation system and infrastructure, it is important that Congress continue to promote cost-effective policies while simultaneously pursuing promising new initiatives.  I look forward to working with my colleagues, as well as policy experts and stakeholders, on these issues in my new position as chairman of the Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee.

What transportation and infrastructure issues are most important to you? Let me know through email, Twitter, @SenatorCarper, or Facebook at facebook.com/tomcarper. 

Sincerely,