Washington, DC — Edward Wytkind, president of the Transportation Trades Department, AFL-CIO (TTD), issues this statement on the nomination of Elaine Chao as Secretary of Transportation by President-elect Donald Trump:
“I congratulate Elaine Chao on her nomination by President-elect Donald Trump as the next Secretary of Transportation. Secretary-designate Chao’s many years of public service will serve her well in carrying out the difficult task — as the President-elect has promised — of rebuilding our badly aging transportation system and infrastructure.
“Secretary-designate Chao has an opportunity to play a large role in living up to the commitments made by President-elect Trump that he would rebuild the middle class through job-creation policies. Advancing massive federal investment in new transportation projects is one of the best policy strategies for improving our economy, boosting American competitiveness and putting millions to work.
“Transforming the President-elect’s campaign commitments on transportation and jobs into reality will require leadership and a willingness to stand up to the dangerous austerity and job-killing proposals being advanced by some in Washington. This includes opposing the agenda of special interests and their congressional allies when they push wrongheaded policies that lower wages and weaken the rights of working people — the very people that the President-elect said he would fight for in the Oval Office.
“I look forward to meeting with Secretary-designate Chao to discuss transportation labor’s priorities.”
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