WASHINGTON, D.C. – February 5, 2019 – Ian Jefferies, president and CEO of the Association of American Railroads (AAR), issued the following statement in reaction to President Trump’s discussion of infrastructure during the State of the Union Address.

“The private freight rail industry commends the Trump administration for its call to invest in U.S. infrastructure — a stated, bipartisan priority of the legislative branch as well. Raising revenue to pay for improvements to critical systems — such as the U.S. highway system — will be key, and progress will be best achieved when policymakers return surface transportation funding to an equitable, user-pay system as originally designed. We appreciate the President’s commitment to the issue and hope that leaders in Washington may seize the opportunity to enact smart policies for the future.”

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For more information contact: AAR Media Relations at media@aar.org or 202-639-2345.

About AAR: The Association of American Railroads (AAR) is the world’s leading railroad policy, research and technology organization focusing on the safety and productivity of rail carriers. AAR members include the major freight railroads of the U.S., Canada and Mexico, as well as Amtrak. Learn more at www.aar.org.

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