HUDSON COUNTY — Rep. Albio Sires joined his colleagues to introduce the final recommendations of the specially appointed bi-partisan “Panel on 21st Century Freight Transportation.” Since April of this year the committee toured freight facilities in Southern California, Memphis, the New York City/Northern New Jersey region, and Norfolk, Virginia. They held numerous briefings with freight industry professionals to examine the role freight transportation plays in the U.S. economy and how the federal government can work to increase the efficiency, safety, and security of our critical transportation network. The panel consists of 11 members of the US House of Representatives from around the country and is led by Chairman, U.S. Rep John J. Duncan, Jr. (R-TN) and Ranking Member Jerrold Nadler (D-NY).
Included in the Panel’s recommendations are several key policy provisions put forth in the MOVE Freight Act of 2013, introduced by Congressman Sires in March. The key policy provisions include recommending that Congress should direct the Secretary of Transportation to establish a true multimodal freight network that takes all modes of goods movement into account, the creation of comprehensive state freight plans, and increased funding for freight transportation infrastructure projects.
“My district is home to one of the largest sea ports in the country, so involvement on this panel has been a key priority for me,” remarked Congressman Sires. “These common sense, bipartisan recommendations will help ensure that New Jersey remains competitive and it will ensure that our nation, which moves nearly $20 trillion in goods on our transportation network each year, remains competitive.”
The findings of the bipartisan Panel on 21st Century Freight Transportation will play a key role in the development of a long-term surface transportation bill, which is expected to be completed before the end of 2014.
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