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For Immediate Release
01/21/09
Contact: |
Joe Brenckle - Republican Press Office 202-224-3991
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Sen. Hutchison’s Ban on Tolling Federal Highways Supported by Transportation Secretary Nominee LaHood
LaHood Agrees that Taxpayers Should Not Pay Twice for Federal Roads |
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WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison (R–TX), Texas’ senior Senator, today pressed former Congressman Ray LaHood, the Transportation Secretary nominee, on his stance on imposing tolls on existing federal highways at a Senate Committee on Commerce, Transportation & Science hearing. Rep. LaHood agreed with Sen. Hutchison that tolling should not be imposed on existing roads that have already been paid for by taxpayers, unless a new lane is constructed and the same number of free lanes is maintained.
“I think we have placed too much focus on private-financed toll roads to solve the problems of urban congestion. In many instances, this has become an abdication of private property rights. I am very concerned about our federal government giving incentives to promote toll roads and, in some instances, allowing tolls over every lane of a federal highway that the taxpayers have already paid for,” said Sen. Hutchison.
“The idea of taking…the interstate highway that’s already there and people are using and putting tolls on that… is not a good idea,” said Rep. LaHood.
At the Commerce Committee hearing to consider his nomination to the post of Transportation Secretary on Wednesday, Rep. LaHood testified that out-of-the box thinking would be needed to face transportation challenges, and imposing tolls on existing highways that taxpayers are already using is not a good approach. Rep. LaHood agreed that tolls could be a viable option for new lanes, highways, or bridges.
In 2007, Sen. Hutchison successfully passed legislation that prohibits the tolling of existing federal highways built with taxpayer dollars in Texas. Sen. Hutchison’s amendment passed and was signed into law as part of the Fiscal Year (FY) 2008 THUD Appropriations bill. The Senate extended the provision through September 30, 2009.
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26th - |
Rockefeller DTV Delay Bill Passes Senate
- Washington, DC – Senator John D. (Jay) Rockefeller IV (D-WV), Chairman of the Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, issued the following statement after the U.S. Senate passed the DTV Delay bill by unanimous consent.
“Delaying the upcoming DTV switch is the right thing to do. I firmly believe that our nation is not yet ready to make this transition at this time. The S...
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22nd - |
Rockefeller Announces Compromise on DTV Delay Bill
- Washington, DC – This evening, Senator John D. (Jay) Rockefeller IV (D-WV), Chairman of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, announced a bipartisan compromise to the DTV Delay Act introduced last week.
The amended DTV Delay Act will retain the extension of the digital transition date to June 12, 2009. Additionally, the agreement extends the Federal Communicatio...
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21st - |
current Press Release |
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15th - |
Oceans Policy Scores Victory with Passage of S. 22, the Omnibus Public Land Management Act of 2009
- WASHINGTON, D.C. – Ocean conservation and research scored a major victory today with the passage of S. 22, the Omnibus Public Land Management Act of 2009. The act includes five bills, originally introduced in the 110th Congress under the leadership of Commerce Committee Chairman Daniel K. Inouye (D-Hawaii), that increase our knowledge of oceans and coastal areas, provide policymakers with i...
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