Jan. 5—Veteran U.S. Rep. Rosa DeLauro, the new, powerful House Appropriations Committee chairwoman, promised Monday that once President-elect Joe Biden takes office, he will support major investments that should help Connecticut and the region.
"The new administration has a high priority on infrastructure, something that is very near and dear to my heart, having introduced legislation in 1994 for an infrastructure development bank" said DeLauro, who was Gov. Ned Lamont's guest during a virtual news conference from the State Capitol.
"I think in addition to transportation, you're looking at broadband, airports, water projects, et cetera," she said. "It is roads and bridges and there is a heavy emphasis by the next administration on infrastructure. Why? Because it is a driver of the economy and it results in jobs, and in new technologies, for that matter, which helps to create jobs."
DeLauro said that her staff and Lamont's staff will be working cooperatively to make priorities for the state. DeLauro said that during a recent meeting with New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, issues of regional infrastructure were discussed as well.
"We are interconnected here, and we want to make sure that there is a high priority on infrastructure," she said. "I applaud the governor for saying that Connecticut is going to be ready for what direction that we go into, to take advantage of where this new administration" is headed.
DeLauro believes there is a likelihood of bipartisan support for infrastructure projects. The two special Senate elections in Georgia will determine whether Democrats can wrest control from the current Republican majority.
While President Donald Trump promised early in his term that infrastructure would be a priority, such an effort never came forth, then the coronavirus pandemic last year further sidetracked issues such as nationwide highway and bridge repairs and railroad improvements.
"I have a feeling that transportation and infrastructure is going to be a big piece of what you see in Washington over the course of the next, say, four years. and I want to make sure that Connecticut is ready," Lamont said. "I want to make sure that we have our strategy in place. We have our design-and-build plans ready to go, and I can talk to my friends in Washington to tell us how Connecticut and our entire region can take advantage of transportation."
Lamont said that the hiring of state Sen. Carlo Leone, in recent years co-chairman of the legislative Transportation Committee, as a special assistant to DOT Commissioner Joseph Giulietti should also help the state.
"We got to know him very well," Lamont said of the Stamford Democrat. "We've got to prioritize, yet again, our transportation initiatives and other, broadly, infrastructure plans; make sure the designs' numbers add up, ready-to-go, shovel-ready so that when Rosa gives us the green light we're there, hopefully at the front of the line."
[email protected] Twitter: @KenDixonCT
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