DOT chief discusses state
recovery bill spending
Feb 12, 2009 9:37 AM
Ray LaHood
U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood met with leaders of state departments of transportation from across the nation February 11 in preparation for final passage of the economic recovery bill.
"The upshot of these meetings is that we have thousands of worthwhile transportation projects that are ready to go," he said. "They’ve cleared all the hurdles and just need the funding. We now need the Congress to pass a final bill."
Taking place in Washington DC, the LaHood meeting came one day after the U.S. Senate approved the Recovery and Reinvestment Act. The House passed its version January 28. Both bills now go to a House-Senate conference committee where the differences in the legislation will be resolved.
LaHood said the bills provide approximately $46 billion for transportation infrastructure, including up to $30 billion for highways. The Senate bill also includes $5.5 billion for a supplemental discretionary grant program. Eligible projects include highways and bridges, as well as freight rail transportation and port infrastructure.
The DOT secretary told meeting participants that accountability would be one of his highest priorities. LaHood said his Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) team, composed of officials from across the DOT’s operating administrations and offices, would closely monitor all aspects of the recovery funding.
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