Policy

In September, President Obama renewed his commitment to job creation with the introduction of the American Jobs Act.  The transportation and infrastructure provisions in the bill would build on the President’s legacy of using investments in transportation as important pillars of his economic policy.  At a time of continuing high unemployment this plan would put […]

Congress must end the unprecedented attacks on the rights, jobs, wages and retirement security of federal employees including thousands who directly support and work in our transportation system.  Not only do these relentless legislative assaults unfairly target workers simply because of their profile as public sector employees, but they undermine vital infrastructure and services that […]

Dear Senator: As the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee marks-up the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Authorization Act of 2011, I urge you to oppose efforts by Senator Coburn to eliminate railroad and over-the-road bus transportation security grant programs.  The funds distributed under these grant programs provide critical resources that enhance the security […]

Dear Representative/Senator:   Now that Congress has completed work on a funding extension for the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), we urge you to turn your attention to swift completion of a multi-year FAA Reauthorization Act. Passage of an FAA bill is critical to air safety, will create more than 300,000 good jobs and will modernize […]

Dear Representative: On behalf of the 32 member unions of the Transportation Trades Department, AFL-CIO (TTD), including the National Association of Letter Carriers, I urge you to support and co-sponsor the United States Postal Service Pension Obligation Recalculation and Restoration Act of 2011 (H.R. 1351), a common sense piece of legislation that would restore fiscal […]

The Honorable Patty Murray Chairman Senate Appropriations Transportation-HUD Subcommittee 448 Russell Senate Office Building Washington, DC 20510 The Honorable Susan Collins Ranking Member Senate Appropriations Transportation-HUD Subcommittee 413 Dirksen Senate Office Building Washington, DC 20510 Dear Chairman Murray and Ranking Member Collins: Last week, the House Appropriations Transportation-HUD Subcommittee marked up a bill that would […]

Dear Representative:  On behalf of the Transportation Trades Department, AFL-CIO (TTD), I am writing to urge your support for the Surface and Air Transportation Program Extension Act of 2011 (H.R. 2887) when it is considered in the House of Representatives.  This legislation will extend surface transportation programs through March 31, 2012 and aviation programs until […]

Chairman Mica, Ranking Member Rahall and members of the Committee, I am pleased to present the views of transportation labor on the topic of today’s hearing – competition for intercity passenger rail in America. This year alone I have appeared twice before this Committee to express our opposition to the privatization and break-up of Amtrak and appreciate the opportunity today to explain why we are strongly opposed to the legislation proposed by Chairman Mica and Subcommittee Chairman Shuster.

Everybody agrees that America desperately needs new investment in its transportation system and infrastructure. In 2009, a report from the National Surface Transportation Infrastructure Financing Commission concluded that our country must invest $172 billion each year simply to maintain its existing transportation infrastructure. The costs to invest in new transport systems like modern transit and high-speed rail will require a major boost in investment.

The Honorable Joseph C. Szabo Administrator Federal Railroad Administration (Attention: Docket Operations, M-30) U.S. Department of Transportation 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE Rm W-12-140 West Building Ground Floor Washington, DC  20590-0001 Re: Docket No. FRA-2009-0043, Notice No. 1: Hours of Service of Railroad Employees; Substantive Regulations for Train Employees Providing Commuter and Intercity Rail Passenger Transportation; […]