ITS Caucus Launched in US Congress
IVsource.net
14 January 2002

House members from Michigan and California head up the new Intelligent Transportation panel.

For the first time in the life of the ITS industry, support for ITS within the US Congress has been formalized with the recent formation of an ITS Caucus.  US Representatives Mike Rogers and Ellen Tauscher, who emphasized their support for ITS in remarks made at the recent ITS Showcase on Capitol Hill (see article in the IVsource archives), issued the following press release recently:

Technology is opening new travel doors in America every day and the trend has become more intensified after the terrorist attacks of September 11.  To ensure the best application of the new technologies, Reps. Mike Rogers, R-MI, and Ellen Tauscher, D-CA, are heading up an Intelligent Transportation Caucus in the US House of Representatives.

Intelligent Transportation Systems are the application of high technology to help make our airports, highways, railroads, and transit systems safe, secure and efficient.

"The terrorist attack on America has underscored the importance of our nation's transportation resources," said Rogers, a former FBI agent. "Technologically smart systems are critical to protect and preserve our ability to navigate the nation's roads, airways, waterways and rails. I look forward to working with Representative Tauscher as we launch this new educational effort."

Tauscher, a leader in high tech issues in Congress, and Rogers serve on the [House] Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.  Both share a commitment to ensuring a transportation system in America that makes the best use of developing technologies.

"Recent events show us just how rapidly intelligent transportation systems are becoming a key part of our nation's critical infrastructure," Rep. Tauscher said.  "Our focus will be on developing a coordinated approach during TEA-21 reauthorization to help local communities use these technologies during times of crisis, as well as to relieve congestion every day."

Rogers agreed, noting that the caucus "will pursue an aggressive program of deployment and continuing research into intelligent transportation systems."

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