WASHINGTON, DC—Edward Wytkind, President of the Transportation Trades Department, AFL-CIO (TTD), issued the following statement ahead of the House Ways & Means Committee mark-up on transportation funding legislation.
“It is unconscionable that the House Ways & Means Committee is preparing to gut the Mass Transit Account by diverting nearly half of the federal investment in public transit—$25 billion—that comes from dedicated fuel tax revenue.
“This move will devastate local transit agencies, jeopardize needed services and threaten jobs in this critical sector. And it comes as ridership on mass transit is at an all-time high and the need for affordable transportation and sustaining transportation jobs couldn’t be higher.
“We urge committee members to reject this all-out assault on transit funding when the committee votes on the bill Friday morning. Since 1983, fuel tax revenue has been dedicated to help fund public transit, and this mechanism should continue to ensure safe systems and sustained economic growth.”
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The Transportation Trades Department, AFL-CIO, represents 32 member unions in the aviation, rail, transit, trucking, highway, longshore, maritime and related industries. For more information, visit ttd.org or Facebook or Twitter.
CONTACT: Jennifer Michels
202.628.9262, jenniferm@ttd.org
