Senate to Hold Hearing for Transportation Nominee Chao

The Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee will hold its hearing for President-elect Donald Trump’s nomination of Transportation-Secretary-designate Elaine Chao this afternoon. Secretary Chao has an extensive background that qualifies her to lead the Department of Transportation. She served as the Secretary of Labor under President George W. Bush for all eight years and deputy secretary for transportation as well as deputy administrator of the Maritime Administration under President George H. W. Bush. In addition, Secretary Chao honed her business savvy while serving in leadership roles at various organizations, including the Peace Corps, the United Way of America, the Heritage Foundation and most recently as a distinguished fellow at the Hudson Institute. It is because of these qualifications that Secretary Chao is expected to receive a comfortable nomination by the Senate.

Once at the helm of DOT, Secretary Chao will be tasked with crafting, messaging and implementing President-elect Trump’s infrastructure proposal through Congress. The biggest hurdle will be finding the financial resources to fund the $1 trillion proposal. The first test for the incoming administration’s transportation package will be securing a pay-for in tax reform. However, key Republicans have expressed a commitment to finding a dedicated funding source. Sec. Chao has also identified several key issues of focus in her nomination questionnaire that are of particular interest to the ready mixed concrete industry. They include: 1) effective enforcement safety measures, getting the most benefit from the DOT’s expenditures, including strengthening its planning and acquisition practices and considering new technologies in our infrastructure; 2) improve critical infrastructure by finding ways  to expedite the process of making repairs and building new construction and decreasing regulatory burdens; and 3) strive for equity between urban and rural areas, among different modes of transportation, and other competing but equally deserving stakeholders.     

It is this wide range of knowledge and policy acumen that NRMCA believes Secretary Chao’s professional qualifications are indisputable. NRMCA sent letters to members of the Senate asking for support of Secretary-designate Elaine Chao to serve as the Secretary of Transportation. We also signed onto letters of support with members of the Highway Materials Group and the North American Concrete Alliance. To view those letters click here, here and here.