The U.S. House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee has scheduled field hearings Feb. 14-25 for input in drafting a long-term transportation reauthorization bill.
Congress has passed short-term transportation funding measures since the 2005 omnibus transportation bill expired in September 2009.
Committee Chairman John Mica (R-Fla.) said lawmakers were seeking the public’s ideas, such as consolidating and improving program performance, cutting red tape and increasing private sector investment in infrastructure.
The committee’s first hearing is Feb. 14 in Beckley, W.Va., and a second hearing is scheduled in Charleston, W.Va. A Los Angeles House-Senate hearing in Los Angeles also is planned with Sen. Barbara Boxer, (D-Calif.), chairman of the Senate environment and public works committee.
More sessions are scheduled for Feb. 17-25 in the Philadelphia Metropolitan area; Scranton, Pa.; Rochester, N.Y.; Columbus, Ohio; Indianapolis, Ind.; Chicago Metropolitan area; Vancouver, Wash.; Fresno, Calif.; Oklahoma City; Jonesboro, Ark.; and the Memphis Metropolitan area.
The committee’s website is http://transportation.house.gov.
