Issue Position: Transportation

Issue Position

Values

Congress must provide the long-term predictability that states need to undertake major construction projects. The short-term extensions to the highway transportation law have been necessary to keep current projects running. However, comprehensive transportation legislation is needed.
The safety of our nation's highways and bridges must be improved. Among other things, a finalized transportation plan must encourage private investment through public-private partnerships so that we can use the least amount of taxpayer dollars and accelerate the construction of priority projects.

Believes states need to be provided more flexibility to determine their own unique transportation priorities, including highways, bridges, tunnels, recreational trials, and walking and bicycling paths.

I am troubled by the roughly 10,000 preventable deaths each year in the U.S. caused by alcohol-related driving incidents. As a former practicing attorney, I have witnessed firsthand the devastation caused by alcohol-related driving incidents, and I support law enforcement efforts that prevent, apprehend, and penalize those responsible.

Actions

Contacted the Virginia Department of Transportation and members of the Commonwealth Transportation Board to express my support for the Henry County Alternative route, which is the proposed alternative alignment to the I-73 Adopted Location Corridor (ALC). This alternate route will provide critical benefits, bring significant cost and time savings, and help spur economic growth in the City of Martinsville, Henry County and throughout Southside.

Contacted Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood to express concern over a proposed hours of service rule change for truck drivers that would create great difficulties on the shipment of goods across this nation. This exemplifies a case whereby the government imposes unnecessary changes and additional requirements on an existing system that has been successful.
Opposes certain NAFTA long-haul trucking provisions. For instance, foreign truck drivers have less incentive to pay traffic fines they receive on U.S. highways. A comprehensive record of a foreign truck driver's safety violations can be difficult to obtain. Finally, unfamiliarity with local terrain (like our hills and mountains) can lead to more accidents and increased frustration.

Source