Dan Lipinski wants transportation bill passed pronto
News from Congressman Dan Lipinski, 3rd District, Illinois
Dec. 14, 2009
Lipinski Leads Transportation, Business, and Labor Leaders in Call for Quick Passage of Transportation Bill to Create Jobs and Improve Region
At a press conference this morning in downtown Chicago, Congressman Dan Lipinski (IL-3) and transportation, business, and labor leaders called on Congress to quickly pass a six-year $500 billion transportation reauthorization bill to create millions of urgently needed jobs and provide billions of dollars in funding for critical infrastructure projects in Illinois. Congressman Lipinski also urged Congress to avoid making the same mistake it made with the stimulus bill and ensure that the new jobs bill President Obama has called for and Congress could soon act on makes a substantial investment in our transportation infrastructure.
“In these days of high controversy, three facts are clear: Americans need jobs, America’s transportation infrastructure needs repair, and investment in transportation infrastructure produces jobs,” said Lipinski, speaking at Ogilvie Transportation Center. “It’s time for Congress to stop delaying and pass the $500 billion transportation reauthorization to create jobs and make desperately needed repairs to our roads, public transit, and rails.”
Congressman Lipinski was joined by a diverse group of attendees who support passage of a six-year transportation bill. They included CTA President Richard Rodriguez, Illinois Road and Transportation Builders Association President Mike Sturino, Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce President & CEO Jerry Roper, Metra Chairwoman Carole Doris, Chicago Building & Construction Trades President Tom Villanova, RTA Executive Director Steve Schlickman, Laborers District Council Director Mike Kleinik, CDOT Commissioner Tom Powers, Metra Executive Director Phil Pagano, President and CEO of the Illinois Chamber of Commerce Doug Whitley, CMAP Deputy Executive Director Don Kopec, and railroad officials, represented by Union Pacific Vice President Mike Payette.
Every four to six years, Congress passes a major transportation bill to invest in our nation’s infrastructure and promote economic growth. The last such bill was passed in 2005 and expired October 1. The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee has been developing a new bill to replace the now-expired bill for more than two years, and passed the measure at the subcommittee level in June with Congressman Lipinski’s support. With unemployment officially at 10 percent, further delay cannot be tolerated. Every $1 billion in transportation spending supports or creates 35,000 jobs.
But the need for jobs is only one reason we must pass the transportation bill. The fact is that both the Chicago area and the nation have tremendous transportation needs – from highway construction and road repair, to the expansion and revitalization of our underfunded transit systems. Chicago ranks second in terms of road congestion in the nation and congestion costs the region more than $11 billion annually. And according to the American Society of Civil Engineers, America would need to invest $1.4 trillion over the next five years just to bring the state of the nation’s transportation infrastructure up to a “good” condition.
“While I firmly believe that it is the private sector that must ultimately carry America out of the recession, businesses remain reluctant or unable to add workers,” Lipinski said. “In the meantime, millions of families are suffering. That means there’s a place for targeted and effective government action that both provides millions of jobs in the near term and enhances economic growth for decades to come. That’s exactly what the transportation reauthorization will do.”
Congressman Lipinski’s strong preference is to pass the reauthorization bill. But the House is also currently working on a separate jobs bill that could total $70 billion. Congressman Lipinski believes that if this bill is to truly create jobs, a substantial portion of that amount must be devoted to transportation.
“I was a staunch advocate for sharply increasing the amount of transportation funding in the stimulus bill,” Lipinski said. “But Congress didn’t listen and the result was a bill that has not created nearly enough jobs. With unemployment in double digits, we can’t afford to make the same mistake we did with the stimulus, which devoted just 5 percent of its total spending to transportation. This is our chance to get the policy right and do what we should have done in the first place.”
“Nothing is assured yet and much could still change as work continues on the jobs bill,” Lipinski continued. “But I do think Congress may be coming around to my point of view on the proven ability of transportation investments to create jobs. I will continue to fight to make sure that any jobs bill that passes the House contains enough money for transportation and creates the jobs Americans desperately need.”
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News from Congressman Dan Lipinski, 3rd District Illinois
Dec. 10, 2009
Lipinski Secures $3.65 Million for Nine Local Projects that Will Create Jobs, Aid Law Enforcement, Improve Public Transit, and Promote Education
Congressman Dan Lipinski (IL-3) announced his success in obtaining $3.65 million for nine local public safety, transportation, education, health, and technology projects under legislation that passed the House of Representatives today. These worthy projects were awarded funding at Congressman Lipinski’s request and as a direct result of his working over many months to ensure they received priority treatment.
“I’m very pleased to be bringing home this funding, which will benefit everyone from young kids who need somewhere to go after school to commuters who ride Metra to seniors who call 9-1-1 for emergency medical care,” Congressman Lipinski said. “Since the first day I took office, I have been focused on getting things done for the people of the Third District. As this latest round of funding shows, I continue to produce concrete results. All told, I have obtained $160 million in federal money for local projects since 2005.
Recipients include the municipalities of La Grange, Oak Lawn, La Grange Park, and Hickory Hills; the Valentine Boys & Girls Club of Bridgeport; Saint Xavier University; the Chicago Transit Authority; Metra; and the Illinois Science and Technology Coalition.
“The Saint Xavier University community is grateful to Congressman Lipinski for his dynamic leadership and commitment to higher education, as demonstrated by his efforts to secure federal funding for our Stump Library renovation project,” said Angela Durante, Ph.D., Interim President and Provost of Saint Xavier, which received $750,000 for new technology for its library. “The state-of-the-art technological improvements made possible by this funding will ensure that the Stump Library will continue to be a great benefit to Saint Xavier students and a valuable resource to the wider community.”
“We’re very grateful for what the congressman has done for our community,” said La Grange Park Village President Dr. Jim Discipio, whose community received $75,000 for police equipment that will improve communications with other public safety agencies. “With the economic times being the way they are, to have the Congressman work as hard and diligently as he does is something we should all be thankful for.”
“The Valentine Boys & Girls Club is very appreciative of Congressman Lipinski’s continued support in securing funding for our organization,” said Jeffrey Sadowski, regional director for the Boys & Girls Clubs of Chicago. “He recognizes the work that we do on a daily basis that essentially keeps kids off the street during the time when they are most vulnerable – after school. With the help of Congressman Lipinski, we are able to provide programs and services that are mission-driven. Thank you, Congressman Lipinski.”
“The Village of Oak Lawn is pleased to have received this funding, which will help provide our first responders with the technology they need to keep our residents safe in case of emergency,” said Mayor Dave Heilmann, whose community received $100,000 for equipment to allow emergency personnel to view safety-camera video from within their vehicles. “I want to thank Congressman Lipinski for all his efforts on our behalf.”
“Now more than ever, my constituents need someone who can stand up for their interests in Washington and deliver vital assistance,” Congressman Lipinski said. “I continue to fight every day to make certain that the federal government helps the hard-working residents of the Third District.”
The following projects will receive funding thanks to Congressman Lipinski:
Saint Xavier University: $750,000 for an array of information technology designed to enhance student learning. Much of the new technology will be located in the new Robert and Mary Rita Stump Library. The money will help pay for a new media center that will stimulate innovation and aid in the development of new applications of technology to teaching; an information commons to support research, library reference services, and instruction; a mobile computer lab that will convert regular classrooms into temporary computer labs; and an online communications system that will provide students with live Web casts, on-demand materials and lectures, distance learning programs, and other tools that will expand the university’s reach. Equipment in the new media center will be used to develop digital literacy programs for students and the community at large.
La Grange: $700,000 to renovate the Stone Avenue Metra station, which serves an average of nearly 1,000 commuters daily. The Village of La Grange, Metra, and BNSF Railway are collaborating on the project, which includes a careful and historically respectful rehabilitation of the structure, accessibility upgrades, and the addition of a "kiss and ride" area along with improved bicycle facilities. In addition, La Grange will receive $100,000 for a new generation of 9-1-1 call center technology that will allow for the display and answering of calls received in a variety of formats, including text messages and streaming video. The system will also utilize digital mapping to precisely pinpoint the location of a caller.
Oak Lawn: $100,000 for equipment to allow first responders to view safety-camera video from emergency vehicles. This will allow for improved assessment of developing situations, faster emergency responses, and enhanced crime prevention. Cameras are currently in place in Oak Lawn schools, the train station, parking garage, and key intersections.
La Grange Park: $75,000 for police equipment that will improve communications with other public safety agencies in cases requiring joint action. The equipment includes in-car video cameras that can stream to the Cook County Emergency Operations Center, in-car radios with extra channels, interoperable hand-held radios, and associated computer servers.
Hickory Hills: $125,000 for the police department to replace outdated computers, communications equipment, and back-up power supply equipment. Technological improvements to 9-1-1 equipment will enhance the ability of first responders from multiple agencies to coordinate efforts and establish vital radio communications.
Valentine Boys & Girls Club: $150,000 for afterschool programs to combat youth obesity and promote healthy lifestyles. The club will use the money to cover expenses necessary to create a daily fitness regime during afterschool hours for youths between the ages of 6 and 18. Among the club’s recreational offerings will be swim classes, game-room activities, instruction in strength and cardiovascular training, and sports such as basketball, volleyball, football, and floor hockey. In addition, healthy nutrition will be taught in a series of workshops.
Chicago Transit Authority: $1.5 million for preliminary work on the Circle Line, which will run in an arc west of the Loop, connecting all existing CTA lines as it stretches from the Orange Line near Ashland Avenue on the South Side to the existing Pink Line Cermak Branch near 18th Street and on to the North and Clybourn area on the North Side. A total of $43.8 million has now been earmarked for this multi-billion dollar project.
Illinois Science and Technology Coalition: $150,000 to help the Illinois Science and Technology Coalition to establish the Illinois Nanotechnology Collaborative, which aims to increase commercial applications resulting from nanotechnology research, much of which is financed by the federal government. The INC will develop specific strategies to make it easier for small businesses to share infrastructure and reduce start-up costs, and to access Illinois’ deep nanotechnology research capabilities. This will in turn provide a greater return on federal investments.
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News from Congressman Dan Lipinski, 3rd District Illinois
Dec. 11, 2009
Lipinski Leads Bipartisan Group of Illinois Representatives in Urging Metra to Support Local Jobs and Open Bidding for New Locomotives
Seeking to protect Illinois jobs, taxpayers, commuters, and the environment, Congressman Dan Lipinski (IL-3) led a bipartisan group of eight Illinois Representatives in sending a letter to Metra today urging it to widen its search for a company to provide it with ten new passenger locomotives. Joining Lipinski in signing the letter were Representatives Mark Kirk, Bobby Rush, Donald Manzullo, Danny Davis, Bill Foster, Debbie Halvorson, and Judy Biggert.
The letter asks Metra to reconsider its recent decision to seek only multiple-engine genset locomotives instead of diesel-electric locomotives, which form the backbone of the rail agency’s fleet and which are produced locally by La Grange-based Electro-Motive Diesel Inc., one of the world’s largest locomotive companies.
“Instead of unnecessarily limiting its options, Metra should open up the bidding process to producers of both types of locomotives, allowing it to make the best choice for taxpayers, commuters, the environment, and Illinois workers,” Congressman Lipinski said. “Otherwise, Metra will be limiting competition and increasing the possibility that it will be forced to pay more for less. Opening up the bidding process is a matter of simple fairness and basic common sense.”
Metra’s fleet currently consists of 163 locomotives powered by engines made by Electro-Motive Diesel, which has 1,600 salaried and union employees at its La Grange headquarters. Diesel-electric passenger locomotives have earned a strong reputation for performance, reliability, and fuel efficiency, and have become the backbone of the North American passenger and commuter rail fleet. They load quickly, thereby improving schedule time, and are environmentally friendly, emitting low levels of NOx, diesel particulates, and greenhouse gases.
Multiple-engine genset locomotives are typically limited to performing rail yard and switching operations.
Metra originally issued a Request for Proposals for ten diesel-electric locomotives. It then canceled that RFP and announced its intention to issue a new RFP for ten multiple-engine genset locomotives.
“Metra’s employees are highly familiar with the operations and maintenance of diesel-electric locomotives,” the letter states. “For this reason and others, the Commuter Rail Labor Association supports the purchase of diesel-electric locomotives. Given all the facts, we strongly urge Metra to include both diesel-electric passenger locomotives and multiple-engine genset locomotives in the new RFP for ten passenger locomotives.”
This is part of the December 10, 2009 online edition of The Reporter.
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