Bob Filner: “I was honored yesterday to join Senator Barbara Boxer in San Diego, CA, in my district as we announced historic…”

“I was honored yesterday to join Senator Barbara Boxer in San Diego, CA, in my district as we announced historic legislation to improve our Nation's border transportation infrastructure. Today, Senator Boxer and I will introduce this legislation that we have called the Border Infrastructure Safety and Congestion Relief Act. Mr. Speaker, it is critical that Federal funding be found for border highway and rail projects without affecting California's Federal highway assistance. Our legislation would establish a $500 million border infrastructure fund to pay for construction and improvements to border area infrastructure and would fund Federal loan guarantees to rehabilitate shortline freight railroads. Historically, U.S. investment in its transportation infrastructure has resulted in a system of roads, highways, bridges, railroads, airports, and seaports that is unmatched around the world. This transportation system has been crucial in keeping America's economy strong. Similarly, we know that border infrastructure is absolutely essential for the continued economic development of my city and county of San Diego, and we cannot afford to see America reverse this infrastructure investment policy now. Yet that is precisely what is happening because of Federal inaction on border infrastructure issues. Further inaction will place our national transportation infrastructure and our economic well-being in great jeopardy.”