Rep. Alan Lowenthal (D-Calif.) will call on congressional leaders on April 21 to advance a long-term highway bill and to support his legislation that would create a freight transportation infrastructure trust fund supported by a 1% waybill fee on the cost of moving goods.
Joining Lowenthal for the “call to action” event outside of the House side of the U.S. Capitol will be Rep. Brenda Lawrence (D-Mich.) and key industry officials, such as Sean Eagan, governmental affairs director at the Port of Tacoma; and Leslie Blakey, executive director for the Coalition for America’s Gateways and Trade Corridors.
In March, Lowenthal introduced his waybill plan, which he said could generate about $8 billion a year in dedicated revenue to eliminate traffic bottlenecks in freight corridors and rebuild deteriorating infrastructure.
“Goods movement is one of the most powerful economic engines in our nation,” he said, in a statement. “Yet, the infrastructure this engine depends on is crumbling around us.”
The legislation has been referred to the transportation committee.
Update, 12:15 p.m. April 21: The Coalition for America’s Gateways and Trade Corridors released a report, “Freight Can’t Wait,” which highlights the need for ensuring long-term funding for freight interconnectivity.
