Discussing Jobs Bill and Transportation Infrastructure
Photo by John Robert Smith
Earlier this week, Reconnecting America's President and CEO John Robert Smith, who also serves as Co-Chairman of Transportation for America, and James Corless, the Director of Transportation for America, were invited to the White House to participate in a discussion with the executive committee of Transportation for America and White House staff. Accompanying them were Transportation for America partners Arnold Weinfeld, Director of Strategic Initiatives and Federal Affairs for the Michigan Municipal League and Scott Wolf, Executive Director, Grow Smart Rhode Island.
The conference call discussion focused on the jobs bill and, in particular, the transportation infrastructure element.
During the visit, Smith was interviewed by the White House film crew along with several others about the transportation bill. (Video is embedded below.)
Later, Smith, Corless and the Transportation for America partners joined other groups in the East Room, where they heard from Senior White House Advisor Valerie Jarrett, Vice President Joe Biden and President Barack Obama. In one-on-one conversations with Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood and Housing and Urban Affairs Secretary Shaun Donovan, Transportation for America was praised as an example of how nonpartisan groups can impact federal policy.
