Thursday, January 11, 2007                                                                   Printable Version (PDF)  

Washington, DC – Congresswoman Doris O. Matsui (CA-5) expanded her portfolio with an assignment to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.  With this Committee assignment, in addition to her seat on the Rules Committee, the Congresswoman will work to ensure we are we are setting a national policy that is making the critical investments in our infrastructure now for future generations.

 

“Transportation and infrastructure are critical to this country’s future success. To ensure we continue to thrive, we need the highways, bridges, airports, railways and dams to support our commerce,” stated Congresswoman Matsui. “This committee allows me to address the immediate and long term needs of Sacramento – growing our transit lines to encourage transit oriented development or to meet the needs of our airport where we are seeing substantial growth, as well as developing the downtown rail yards where transportation is playing a major role in Sacramento’s economic development.

 

“Of course, this committee also allows me to address Sacramento’s on-going efforts to improve our level of flood protection. It is this committee that writes the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA), which authorizes Army Corps of Engineers water and dam projects.  We’ve already gone six years with out a WRDA bill and this is legislation that should be done every two years. I will be in a key position to shepherd the authorization of the Joint Federal Project – the improvements to Folsom Dam – through WRDA.  In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, it is even more important than ever that we offer the Corps this guidance on flood protection projects.  With this in mind, I think there is a strong commitment by all Members to pass this legislation in this Congress. 

 

“I appreciate the support of Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, Whip James Clyburn, Democratic Caucus Chair Rahm Emanuel, Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro and Congressman George Miller, as well as the entire Democratic Steering Committee.  I very much look forward to working with Chairman Oberstar.

 

“When it comes down to it, this Committee has jurisdiction over many of the critical projects Sacramento has recently undertaken: the construction of the intermodal; the development of the downtown rail station; the construction of the new terminal at the Sacramento International Airport; and the development of the regional transportation system. And with the transportation and infrastructure committee’s jurisdiction over our oil and fuel pipelines, I will continue to play a role in developing our nation’s energy policy.

 

“Sacramento has always had a wonderful quality of life and with this committee, I will be well-placed to maintain and encourage that, as well as work to ensure we are setting a national policy that is making the critical investments now for future generations.”

 The Transportation Committee has jurisdiction over the U.S. Corps of Engineers' support of the nation's water resources, including Folsom Dam and the levees along the Sacramento and American Rivers; surface transportation; freight and passenger rail; the inland waterway system; international maritime commerce; the Economic Development Administration; and the federal clean water program. 

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