Next Monday (2/21) the United States House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee will make a stop just north of Portland in Vancouver, Washington as part of a national tour of field hearings. The goal of the meeting is to get feedback and a local perspective on how to approach the reauthorization of our nation’s transportation law.
The meeting is being coordinated by the office of Congresswoman Jamie Herrera Beutler (R-WA) and will take place from 9:00 – 11:00 am at the Vancouver PUD Community Room (1200 Fort Vancouver Way).
Herrera Beutler issued a statement about the meeting via press release today:
“… I’m pleased that Chairman Mica is coming to Vancouver to receive the input of a diverse range of local transportation stakeholders and experts, and that he’s making time for open dialogue with the folks of Southwest Washington. Our region’s future economic growth and job creation will require an efficient and well-maintained transportation system.”
This meeting is a rare opportunity (only 12 such hearings are being held) to bend the ear of Committee Chairman John Mica (R-FL) at a time when the national discussion on transportation is heating up. Our existing transportation law (SAFETEA-LU) expired in September 2009 and has been kept alive by a series of temporary extensions. Just yesterday, President Obama unveiled his budget, where he set aside $556 billion for transportation — of which $850 million is set aside for light rail on a new I-5 bridge over the Columbia (which is surely going to be a major topic at the meeting).
At the meeting, you’ll hear brief opening statements from Members of Congress and then there will be a period of prepared statements and a Q & A session from “a panel of local transportation experts and stakeholders.” The second portion of the event will be open to members of the public to share comments. Chairman Mica will moderate the entire session.