Surface Transportation Reauthorization

We are here at a moment of enormous peril and promise. Promise, because we have an opportunity to invest in the future of our transportation system, grow the economy, expand job creation, and achieve a larger vision for our Nation's transportation system. But, at the same time, there's tremendous peril in the decaying and crumbling infrastructure that faces us, literally, every day on our roads, bridges, railroads, and other public facilities. Resources and rules, and effective enforcement of those rules, are a prerequisite to safety and reliability. There are indications that some of the agencies, such as the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration and the Federal Railroad Administration, have been absent from what they should be doing in their watchdog and oversight roles. Rigor and vigilance are needed to protect people who use railroads and other transportation systems.