EARL BLUMENAUER
May 9, 2008
Contact: Erin Allweiss (202) 225-4813
REP. BLUMENAUER KEYNOTES NATIONAL CONFERENCE ON REBUILDING AMERICA
Joins Members of Congress, Business, Labor & Civic Leaders for National Infrastructure Forum
Washington, DC - Today Congressman Earl Blumenauer (D-Ore), regarded as one of the nation's most innovative thinkers on rebuilding America, keynoted a one-day forum at the Woodrow Wilson Center titled Rebuilding and Renewing America: Toward a 21st Century Infrastructure Investment Plan. More than one hundred political, business, and planning leaders from across the country gathered for the forum, which was organized by America 2050, a joint venture of the Regional Plan Association and the Lincoln Institute of Land Policy.
Congressman Blumenauer gave the morning keynote on the current infrastructure crisis facing the nation and the need to compete in the global economy, protect the environment, and secure the nation while preparing for the challenges of the 21st century.
"Our nation is facing some of the greatest challenges in history, foremost among them global warming," said Congressman Earl Blumenauer. "We need a new vision to rebuild and reinvest in America, one that prepares us to meet these challenges, keep our nation competitive and protect our citizens. Two hundred and one hundred years ago, American leaders understood the need for national plans. Today, it's time to bring people together to forge a new national plan for the 21st century."
The keynote came two days after he introduced legislation that would provide a mechanism for Congress to reach out to the American people and develop a national vision to guide infrastructure investment for the 21st century. Read more here: http://blumenauer.house.gov/index.php'option=content&task=view&id=1314
The full-day forum featured keynote speeches, plenary panels, and workshops to build consensus around the need for a national infrastructure investment plan to meet energy, economic, environmental, and structural challenges facing the current infrastructure system in the United States.
"At key moments in our nation's history, leaders like Thomas Jefferson, Theodore and Franklin Roosevelt, and Eisenhower developed far-sighted plans that guided investments and the growth of the nation. It's time we do it again." said Robert Yaro, Co-Chair of America 2050 and President of the Regional Plan Association.
"Planning for infrastructure requires an organizing framework, and we think we have an ideal one, in the concept of megaregions - like the Boston-to-Washington corridor or the Pacific Northwest," said Armando Carbonell, Co-Chair of America 2050 and Chairman of the Department of Planning and Urban Form at the Lincoln Institute of Land Policy. "These are coherent regions that can be bigger actors in terms of economic competitiveness and responses to climate change."
Judith Rodin, President of the Rockefeller Foundation, gave the keynote lunch speech. In her opening remarks, she spoke about the importance of transportation infrastructure for Americans, and the environmental, economic security, and social mobility considerations that must inform sound public policy.
CONFERENCE AGENDA + SUMMARY
Speakers and panelists at The America 2050 conference examined four key themes facing U.S. infrastructure: 1) global competitiveness, 2) fairness and opportunity, 3) climate change and energy security, 4) national infrastructure investment. America 2050 issued a 20 page briefing report at the conference which can be found on the website (www.America2050.org). A summary of the important findings are below:
* Global Competitiveness: The United States' failure to make significant maintain its existing infrastructure systems - once the envy in the world - and invest in capacity for future growth, jeopardizes our competitive advantage in the global marketplace. There is broad recognition of the problem but a failure of leadership, imagination, and political will to reform outdated policies, transition to new technologies, and make investments in future growth. Without action, we can be assured of more infrastructure failures, increased traffic congestion, lowered quality of life, and an inability to move goods and compete with other countries in today's global market.
* Fairness and Opportunity: The global economic transformation has left vast regions of America lagging in job growth and income level, which has been exacerbated by rising transportation, housing and fuel costs forcing many American's to spend up to 50% of their income on transportation costs. Many older industrial cities, mostly concentrated in the Northeast and Midwest have high concentrations of poverty, and the grain belt in the Great Plains has been experiencing decade's long losses in population and income. A major infrastructure investment is needed in these areas so that we can level the playing field and revitalize our once vibrant economic centers.
* Climate Change and Energy Security: Greenhouse gas emissions cannot be reduced without a viable national transportation plan. Why" Because even if the United States reduces its greenhouse emissions by 60%, the increase in the number of drivers on the road will override any positive impact. Public transportation must be more accessible and environmentally friendly so that we can reduce the number of travelers on the road and in the air - the only way to preserve our natural resources and reduce energy costs and carbon emissions.
* Investment: From transportation to water systems, we need investment and innovation to develop a sustainable framework that will reduce reliance on fossil fuels, create capacity for economic growth, and make better use of our natural resources.
America's Investment in Infrastructure: A Long-Standing Tradition
Today's forum coincides with the bicentennial and centennial of plans during the Thomas Jefferson (1808) and Theodore Roosevelt (1908) administrations that led to investments in railways, environmental restoration and power generation projects.
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Erin B. Allweiss Communications Director Congressman Earl Blumenauer (OR-3) 2267 Rayburn House Office Building tel: 202 225 4811 fax: 202 225 8941 http://blumenauer.house.gov/
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