By Brai Odion-Esene
WASHINGTON (MNI) – President Obama Wednesday said he is beginning
to ramp up the administration’s efforts to not only create new jobs, but
protect existing ones as well, starting with the U.S. transportation
sector and the nation’s infrastructure.
“Today I am directing certain federal agencies to identify high
priority infrastructure projects that can put people back to work,”
Obama said in a statement to the press in the Rose Garden.
The president said these are projects that are already funded,
adding, with some focused attention, the permitting decisions and
reviews — necessary to get construction underway more quickly — can be
expedited.
Obama also used the opportunity to call for a clean extension of
the Surface Transportation Bill, which expires at the end of September,
and the Federal Aviation Administration Reauthorization, which expires
in mid-September.
“If we allow the transportation bill to expire, over 4,000 workers
will be immediately furloughed without pay,” Obama warned. “If it’s
delayed for just 10 days, it will lose nearly $1 billion in highway
funding.”
Flanked by Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood, AFL-CIO President
Richard Trumka, who is also a member of Obama’s Jobs Council, and the
Chamber of Commerce COO David Chavern, the president went on to say that
if Congress delays even longer, over 1 million workers could lose their
jobs over the course of the next year.
“That’s just not acceptable,” Obama said, calling it “inexcusable”
if lawmakers put more jobs at risk in an industry that has already been
one of the hardest hit over the last decade. He urged Congress to stop
the “political gamemanship” that could cost hundreds of thousands of
jobs.
Obama noted the stand-off on the Hill before its August recess over
extending the FAA bill, and the fact that the bill was only renewed
until September 16.
“That’s why when they come back next month, not only do they need
to pass the transportation bill, but they’ve also got to pass a clean
extension of that FAA bill — for longer this time,” Obama said.
In addition to pushing for clean extensions of both bills, Obama
made his oft-repeated call for further investment in rebuilding the
nation’s infrastructure, again arguing it would strengthen the economy
and create new jobs across the country.
He proposed a reform of the manner in which funds intended for
transportation improvements are invested, saying states should have more
control over how the money is allocated.
“We need to stop funding projects based on whose districts they are
in, and started funding them based on how much they are going to be
doing for the American people,” Obama said.
This must also be done in a manner that includes greater private
sector involvement, he added.
Once Congress returns from recess, Obama said it will be time to
have a conversation about making a “real, lasting” investment in the
nation’s infrastructure.
“At a time when interest rates are low and workers are unemployed,
the best time to make those investments is right now,” he said. “There
is work to be done and there are workers ready to do it.”
** Market News International Washington Bureau: 202-371-2121 **
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