Congresswoman Matsui Calls for Investments in Transportation Infrastructure to Spur Job Creation
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Friday, September 23, 2011
CONTACT: MARA LEE
(202) 225-7163
Congresswoman Matsui Calls for Investments in Transportation Infrastructure to Spur Job Creation
Today, Congresswoman Doris O. Matsui (CA-05) sent a letter to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure Chairman John Mica (R-FL) and Ranking Member Nick J. Rahall, II (D-WV) imploring them to include robust transportation infrastructure funding in any job creation proposal before the Committee.
Congresswoman Matsui recognizes that renovating America's transportation infrastructure can create thousands of high-paying construction jobs. Sacramento County's construction industry has lost 33,000 jobs since 2006; the Sacramento region would benefit greatly from an injection in federal transportation infrastructure dollars. For instance, the construction of a new terminal at Sacramento International Airport, which opens in October, created 2,400 local jobs. Another project, the ongoing relocation of the Union Pacific Rail Lines in downtown Sacramento, created 340 jobs on site, and many more offsite in the supply chain.
As Congressional committees consider proposals to create jobs, transportation infrastructure must be at the top of the list, Matsui said. Rebuilding America's roads, bridges and levees will not only strengthen our nation's infrastructure, but by creating new jobs and putting Americans back to work, we will strengthen our nation as a whole.
A copy of the Matsui's signed letter is available here.
The full text of the letter is as follows:
Dear Chairman Mica and Ranking Member Rahall,
As the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee reviews job creation proposals, I write to urge you to support robust investments in our nation's transportation infrastructure.
Transportation projects, from simple road rehabilitation to expansions of light rail systems, provide the general public and business community with more efficient roads to move goods to market, give people more transportation options and unlock more parts of our cities and country to economic investment, all while creating jobs. Our nation's manufacturing, retail, agriculture and natural resource industries rely on transportation, and increased transportation costs only leads to a less competitive economy. Just as the benefits of investing in our transportation system are undeniable, so is the need to create jobs in our construction industry.
In Sacramento and across the nation, before recession, a job in the construction industry was typically a path to the Middle Class. During the recent economic downturn over 30,000 construction jobs have been lost in Sacramento alone. The unemployment in the region is now over 12%, much higher than the national unemployment rate. Before the recession, one large construction company in Sacramento employed 3,400 people, it now only employs 1,400. On top of that, total labor hours have been reduced by over 50%.
Despite the recession, there is reason to believe that investing in our nation's and Sacramento's transportation needs can and will create jobs, and improve our nation's overall economy. For instance, Siemens Transportation system, based in Sacramento, will hire up to 1,000 new employees to help build new electric locomotives for Amtrak. The construction of a new terminal at Sacramento International Airport, which opens next month, created 2,400 jobs. Another project, the ongoing relocation of the Union Pacific Rail Lines in downtown Sacramento, created 340 jobs on site, and many more offsite in the supply chain. The Sacramento Regional Transit District's light rail expansion to the north and south of downtown Sacramento also has tremendous job creation potential. Sacramento RT estimates the 4 mile extension to Consumes River College will create 1,700 direct and indirect jobs. All of these projects are real examples of how investing in our transportation infrastructure provides the public real benefits, while also creating much needed jobs.
With over 30,000 construction jobs lost in our region, it will take a healthy investment in our nation's transportation infrastructure to create much needed jobs. I urge you to include robust funding for transportation infrastructure in any jobs package.
Sincerely,
DORIS O. MATSUI
Member of Congress
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