Chao says private investors can help boost transportation
Washington — The incoming Trump administration is looking to “unleash the potential” of private investors to boost the national transportation networks that underpin the U.S. economy, the president-elect’s pick for transportation secretary, Elaine Chao, told lawmakers Wednesday.
Economic gains are being “jeopardized” by aging infrastructure, rising highway fatalities, growing congestion and a failure to keep pace with emerging technologies, Chao testified before the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee.
Chao, 63, is expected to be easily confirmed by the Senate. She was labor secretary during George W. Bush’s administration and deputy transportation secretary under President George H.W. Bush. Her husband is Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.).
But she hasn’t been immune from criticism. Unions say that as labor secretary, she mostly sided with industry when enforcing labor and safety rules.
Sen. Cory Booker (DN.J.), asked Chao if she and the incoming Trump administration would support infrastructure legislation that includes direct federal spending on transportation in addition to efforts that generate private financing.
“I believe the answer is yes,” she said.
That could put the new administration at odds with conservatives who insist that federal spending be restrained.
Trump repeatedly promised during the campaign to spend $1 trillion on roads, bridges, railways, airports and other types of infrastructure.
It’s one of the main ways he said he would create jobs. But he has said little about this since the election.