Senate Leadership
March 20, 2009
Democratic Leaders Meet With President Obama at White House This Afternoon
Senate President Donald E. Williams, Jr., Speaker Christopher G. Donovan, and Majority Leader Denise Merrill join legislative leaders from across the U.S. to discuss stimulus dollars
Senate President Donald E. Williams, Jr. (D-Brooklyn), Speaker of the House, Christopher G. Donovan, and House Majority Leader Denise Merrill (D-Mansfield) are among a group of legislative leaders from across the United States that met with President Obama, Vice President Joseph Biden, and Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood today in Washington, D.C. to discuss how states can maximize federal stimulus funding.
Senator Williams, Speaker Donovan, and Majority Leader Merrill spoke with President Obama about three issues that affect Connecticut: investment in alternative energy and ‘green’ jobs; support of health care and electronic medical records; and funding for transportation projects.
“It is imperative that as federal dollars are distributed to help grow jobs and improve transportation infrastructure, Connecticut is at the front of the line,” said Senator Williams. “There is no substitute for speaking face-to-face with the President of the United States when it comes to advocating for Connecticut families.”
"This is a tremendous opportunity to bring the concerns of Meriden and the entire state of Connecticut directly to the President and cabinet secretaries," said Representative Donovan. "We're able to talk in a very personal way about our shared need to create jobs, improve our commuter rail services, and stimulate growth in important industries in Connecticut."
"In terms of the stimulus, what we are hearing is that jobs are the highest priority, as are improvements to our rail systems," said Representative Merrill. "We are delighted to have the chance to exchange ideas directly with President Obama and members of his administration about the critical economic recovery dollars scheduled to come to Connecticut, and to clarify the direction we should be taking to access those funds."
Senator Williams and legislative leaders heard directly from the Obama Administration about how federal dollars will be distributed as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA). Approximately $8 billion is available nationwide for state capital transportation grants and high speed rail corridors. This funding can be used for capital projects to improve intercity passenger rail and for projects to develop high speed rail corridors In addition, there is $1.5 billion in discretionary transportation funding and $1.3 billion for Amtrak.
Connecticut’s Democratic legislative leaders want the $8 billion that has been set aside for rail to include more than just high speed rail. Federal funding should be used to expand capacity on Metro North, expand service on Shoreline East and help with the establishment of service on the New Haven Springfield Line. In addition, legislative leaders advocate that the $1.3 billion set aside for Amtrak include rail work on the New Haven Springfield line as part of the improvements to the Northeast Corridor.
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Senator Williams’ Derek Slap |
Listing of Leadership’s recent press releases. |
Senator Looney’s Derek Slap |
