Rep. Tom Kean Jr. To Serve On House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee

UNION COUNTY, NJ — Republican Rep. Tom Kean Jr., the newly elected representative for New Jersey's 7th Congressional district, was appointed to serve on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee.

Through serving on this Committee, Kean hopes to improve operations on NJ Transit and Port of New York/New Jersey, as well as improve flood mitigation efforts and ease traffic congestion on New Jersey roads, among other goals.

"Improving our nation’s infrastructure is vital to growing our economy, strengthening our supply chains, ensuring American energy dominance, improving commuters’ quality of life, and finding solutions to make the day-to-day lives of our constituents better," Kean said in a statement.

"Hardworking taxpayers need to know that their dollars spent on these objectives are done so responsibly and that they are seeing real results from the investments being made. This includes priorities such as the Gateway project, flood control initiatives, expanding broadband access and ensuring the FAA keeps air travel safe around-the-clock," Kean said.

Kean stressed transportation issues in his campaign against former Rep. Tom Malinowksi in the fall. According to the New Jersey Globe, serving on this Committee was Kean's first choice.

The Transportation and Infrastructure Committee has jurisdiction over all modes of transportation in the county, such as the aviation system, highways and bridges, transit and rail transportation, pipelines and maritime and waterborne transportation.

It also has jurisdiction over wastewater infrastructure, the nation’s emergency preparedness and response programs, public buildings and federal real estate management, federal economic development agencies and one of America’s five Armed Forces: the U.S. Coast Guard.

Kean's priorities on the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee include the following, according to his campaign:

• Continuing efforts to modernize the Port of New York/New Jersey
• Expanding capacity and operation of NJ Transit
• Ensuring a skilled and qualified workforce to support our nation’s transportation industry
• Expanding broadband access to unserved areas
• Promoting public-private partnerships to help ease congestion on New Jersey roadways
• Ensuring the continued success of the New Jersey warehouse and distribution centers
• Provide for equal investment for rural counties
• Prioritizing flood control and storm water management

Transportation and Infrastructure Chairman Sam Graves (R-MO) also added the following statement about Kean's appointment:

“I am excited to welcome Representative Tom Kean, Jr. to the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. I am confident he will be a valuable member of our Committee as we work to develop solutions to improve our infrastructure, strengthen transportation programs, and help alleviate ongoing energy and supply chain problems on behalf of the American people.”