06.27.13

Cantwell Statement on Confirmation of Mayor Anthony Foxx as Next Transportation Secretary

During hearing, Mayor Foxx committed to working with Cantwell on first national freight strategy

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA) released the following statement after the U.S. Senate confirmed Charlotte Mayor Anthony Foxx to be the next Secretary of the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) by a unanimous vote.

“Mayor Anthony Foxx understands that transportation helps drive economic growth,” said Cantwell. “I’m particularly encouraged by his commitment to continue developing our first national freight strategy. In Washington state and around the nation, the movement of freight supports job growth and our trade economy.

“I’d like to thank Secretary Ray LaHood for his service to our country,” continued Cantwell. “Ray has been a bipartisan leader on transportation. He has worked to rebuild our nation’s infrastructure, improve our freight system and make our roadways safer. Working with him has been a pleasure, and I wish him the best.”

During a May 2012 confirmation hearing before the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, Cantwell secured Mayor Foxx’s commitment to continue efforts to implement a national multimodal freight strategy to strengthen the nation’s global competitiveness and support economic growth across the country. Cantwell also discussed the importance of Washington state’s ferry system, aviation safety and transparency of airline ticket pricing.

Cantwell called for the formation of the National Freight Advisory Committee in a May 2012 letter to Secretary LaHood as part of a national initiative to improve freight transportation. The 47-member Committee will provide outside recommendations to the USDOT intergovernmental Freight Policy Council on how America’s freight network can better serve businesses, freight customers and shippers, and regions across the nation. Cantwell spoke at the committee’s first meeting on June 25.

The committee is expected to work closely with the USDOT Freight Policy Council, chaired by USDOT Deputy Secretary John Porcari. In 2012, Cantwell worked with Secretary LaHood to create the federal Freight Policy Council and task it with improving the condition and performance of the national freight network to strengthen the United States’ ability to compete in a global economy. Cantwell and Secretary LaHood announced the creation of the Council on August 23, 2012, at the Port of Seattle and the North Spokane Corridor in Washington state.

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