Austin News

WASHINGTON, D.C. – During the Senate Commerce Subcommittee on Surface Transportation, Maritime, Freight, and Ports hearing titled “Examining the Roadway Safety Crisis and Highlighting Community Solutions,” Ranking Member Ted Cruz (R-Texas) criticized the Biden administration for its approach to infrastructure and traffic safety enforcement.

In his opening statement, Sen. Cruz noted that 40,990 people died on U.S. roads last year, attributing this in part to inadequate infrastructure and insufficient freeway space. He accused the Biden administration of prioritizing "political pet projects" over essential infrastructure development.

“Unfortunately, the Biden administration has consistently failed to prioritize new freeways... instead, the Biden administration has allowed itself to be distracted by political pet projects,” Cruz said.

Sen. Cruz highlighted his bipartisan efforts to expand critical infrastructure, including legislation for I-14 and I-27 highways and four new bridges from South Texas to Mexico across the Rio Grande River. These initiatives aim to enhance trade routes and create jobs.

“Infrastructure is one critical way to protect safety,” he stated while also addressing public safety concerns related to decreased traffic law enforcement.

Cruz referenced testimony from Mr. Nelson indicating a correlation between rising traffic fatalities and reduced enforcement of traffic laws. He cited an article noting significant increases in traffic fatalities in cities with fewer police traffic stops.

Additionally, Cruz pointed out issues related to drugged driving linked to marijuana legalization. He expressed concern over the Biden administration's decision to reclassify marijuana from a Schedule 1 substance to Schedule 3 without clear guidelines for testing its use in safety-sensitive industries.

“Thank you. I look forward to hearing from the witnesses,” Cruz concluded.